Preparing Your Household Records

Earthquakes, fires, floods, and tornadoes can happen anytime, anywhere without warning and can require evacuation. Your number one priority in any of these situations is to be sure your family is safe, not finding your most recent copies of insurance policies or bank statements. In case the unexpected happens to you it is best to be prepared BEFORE it happens.

What Documents Should You Have Ready?

• Identification for all family members such as birth, marriage, death certificates, driver's licenses, Social Security cards, insurance cards, and passports.

• Proof of ownership or lease of your residence. (This is needed when applying for disaster assistance after a disaster.

• Photocopy the front and back sides of your credit cards, ATM and debit cards. Be sure to have copies of your PIN numbers (it is best to memorize your PIN numbers). DO NOT store your PIN numbers near your cards in case of theft.

• Checkbook with blank checks and deposit slips; it is advisable to have at least one check so you have a record of your checking account number and financial institution's routing number.

• A small amount of cash

• Contact information for your financial service providers and important account numbers. Safe deposit box key

• Medical records, list of prescription medications, including dosage, treatment and allergy information. Have copies of your medical insurance and Medicare cards readily available. List style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers.

• Tax information, copies of your wills and deeds

• Military ID cards, Military discharge documents

• Copy of your naturalization papers

• Copy of pink slips for your automobiles

• Copies of secret passwords

Keep these documents in a tightly sealed water proof container with your emergency supplies. Send a copy to an out of area contact and store another copy in a safety deposit box. Be sure to update this information as needed.

Remember that these documents contain personal information like social security numbers and bank account information that could be used for identity theft if it fell into the wrong hands. Make sure that your emergency financial records kit is stored in a secure location in your home so it is easy for you to carry away in a disaster not for a thief to carry away in a robbery.