Copies of Important Documents (ID, insurance, bank records)

In the chaos of an emergency, your important documents could be lost, damaged, or destroyed. Having copies of these critical records is an essential part of your preparedness plan, as they are vital for recovering and rebuilding your life after a disaster. The primary purpose of these copies is to provide proof of identity, ownership, and insurance coverage, which you will need to apply for assistance, make insurance claims, and access financial accounts.

Your document kit should include copies of driver's licenses, passports, birth certificates, social security cards, and any green cards or visas. You should also have copies of your insurance policies (home, auto, health), property deeds or rental agreements, and recent bank and credit card statements. Don't forget vehicle registrations and titles. There are several ways to store these copies. You can have physical photocopies sealed in a waterproof bag. A more modern and comprehensive approach is to save digital copies on a password-protected USB flash drive. For the highest level of security and accessibility, you can also upload them to a secure cloud storage service that you can access from any device.

In the event of an evacuation, these documents should be in your 'go-bag'. If your home is destroyed, these copies will be invaluable. They are the foundation of your recovery process. This simple step of organizing and protecting your information can save you months of bureaucratic headaches and financial hardship. It's a critical administrative task that is fundamental to your ability to bounce back from a major disaster.