Don’t let a disaster upend your world. Store important paper documents in a waterproof and fireproof box, safe, or bank deposit box. Leave copies with trusted relatives or friends. Secure electronic copies with strong passwords and save them on a flash or external hard drive in your waterproof box or safe. Consider storing the following: 

• Household Identification

  • Photo ID (to prove identity of household members)

  • Birth certificate (to maintain or re-establish contact with family members)

  • Social Security card (to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)

  • Military service

  • Pet ID tags

• Financial and Legal Documentation

  • Housing payments (to identify financial records and obligations)

  • Some individuals and households may experience financial difficulty because of the pandemic. If you do not think you can pay your loan payments on time, immediately contact your bank and discuss your options before skipping any payments or taking any other actions contrary to the terms of your loans.

  • Insurance policies (to re-establish financial accounts)

  • Sources of income (to maintain payments and credit)

  • Tax statements (to provide contact information for financial and legal providers and to apply for FEMA disaster assistance)

• Medical Information

  • Physician information (in case medical care is needed)

  • Copies of health insurance information (to make sure existing care continues uninterrupted)

  • Immunization records

  • Medications

• Insurance Information

  • Having insurance for your home or business property is the best way to make sure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair, rebuild or replace whatever is damaged. 

• Household Contact Information

  • Banking institutions

  • Insurance agents

  • Health professionals

  • Service providers       

  • Place of worship