Documents you need – Disaster Survival

Prepare your documents before an emergency

3 reasons why you should prepare your documents

1.If you are involved in a natural disaster that is bad enough to destroy your home all of these important documents will be destroyed along with your home.
2. Should you need them again in the near future, you will be at the mercy of the organization that issued them to get you copies.
3. Having a copy of your own will help you be ahead of the curve as you get re-established somewhere else.

Tip: Put all of the documents into a folder that you can grab in a hurry, and keep the binder in a secure place

Which documents do you need?

The documents you might need depends on your situation. Think about identity documents for yourself and family members. Do you own a property? Do you have a list of medications you will need to take?

Which Scroll down to find out which documents you need!

How to store your documents?

In preparing for an emergency, it can be helpful to gather your most important documents and keep them all in one place.

Ideally, these should be kept in a waterproof folder or fireproof safe to prevent them getting damaged if you need evacuate.

Creating a digital back-up

Storing copies of your documents digitally can help ensure that they are protected and secure.

Cloud storage allows you to access documents from anywhere with an internet connection, using any device.

An external hard drive is another option. Store this away from your home. Keep in a locked drawer at your work, with your solicitor, or with a close friend or relative

This can be especially helpful during an emergency evacuation if you need to flee quickly.

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Medical Documents you need

In a serious emergency, there’s a high chance that someone other than your regular doctor will be taking care of your medical needs. Make sure these professionals have the tools they need to give you the best possible care.

Here are the medical documents and proofs you will need

Family and Identification Documents you need

Birth certificates - Copies are fine to ensure you can prove who you are
Marriage and divorce papers - These prove your marital status and could be important in the future.
Adoption papers - If you have adopted a child, these are important to prove that the child is part of your family.
Social Security cards - Getting a new copy of your Social Security card takes time and may not be simple if your area is devastated in a natural disaster, so keep copies of the cards for all members of your household.
Passports and driver's license - If anyone in your family has a passport, make a copy of it. Also, copy all driver's licenses. These will provide a starting point for replacing these important forms of identification if they are lost in a tragedy.
Photographs of family and pets - Keep a recent photograph of all family members and pets so you can get help finding each other if you are separated.
Pet microchip numbers - If you have pets that are microchipped, keep a copy of the microchip tag number.

Property documents you need

You’ll want proof of the things you own so you can reclaim, replace, or rebuild them after a disaster.

Vehicle documentation - (cars, boats, bikes, caravans, motor homes etc). Certified copies of titles, VIN numbers, registration papers.
Real estate documents - Certified copies of deeds for home and business, mortgage notes, chain of title documents.
Appraisals - Receipts or appraisals for valuable items or major purchases
Inventory of items in your home - Photos of valuables and a listing with each item’s description, brand, model, and serial number.

Make sure your home and contents insurance is up-to-date and in particular that the sum-insured amount is enough. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have your insurer’s details handy and know how to contact them should you need to in a hurry.

Financial Documents you need

Tax information - Make a copy of the last year's tax returns, so you can prove your income should you need to. Also, make a copy of your personal and business property tax statements. Should you need to get a new loan or apply for assistance based on your income during your recovery period, you will need hits information.
Financial account numbers - Have copies of statements from all bank or credit union accounts you have, so you have access to the account number and the bank's contact information. Also, make copies of a credit or debit card statement for the same information. You want to be certain you have access to your money in the event of a disaster.
Income verification - In addition to the tax statements, have copies of recent pay stubs in your disaster kit so you can provide proof of income if needed.
Insurance information - All insurance policies you have, including life, car, homeowners and health insurance, should be copied and placed in your disaster prep kit. This will ensure you can get coverage or file a claim even when away from home.
Information about bills and obligations - If you have obligations, like mortgages, utility bills and loans, that you need to pay monthly, make a copy of the bill or statement to put into your disaster kit. This will ensure that you can access your account or the contact information to keep current with your payments.

Legal Documents you need

Will - put a copy of it into your folder. If you have not created one, consider doing so immediately
Living will - a copy of your living will in your folder if you have one. This is a document outlining the medical treatments you wish to have or not have if you are seriously injured or suffer a terminal illness. The living will also names the individual who is allowed to make medical decisions when you can't do so for yourself.
Power of Attorney - A power of attorney document provides someone with the power to act on your behalf for financial or legal concerns if you are not able to do so, such as if you are hospitalized in a coma. This should be part of your kit and your end-of-life plan.
Trust documents - If you have a trust, make sure you have copies of all of the documents relating to it.
Titles and deeds to property you own - From the car to your home, order copies of your titles and deeds, and place them in your folder. Make sure these are actual copies from the appropriate government entity, not photocopies, so you can have legitimate proof of ownership.
Naturalization or citizenship documents - If you were not born in the United States, make sure you get a copy of your naturalization or citizenship papers.

For tips on what communication plans you need for your family, click here