An emergency or disaster can erase the vital documents and records of our lives instantly if we haven’t prepared in advance. Using the Vital Document Checklist, collect all the important papers that apply to you. Make copies and store them in a weatherproof tote — even a large, plastic zip-top bag works. Keep your packet of documents someplace easily accessible so that you can get to it quickly in the event you need to evacuate in a hurry.
- Personal identification
- Personal Medication Record and medical and immunization records
- Social Security and health insurance cards
- Bank statements, retirement accounts and credit card numbers
- Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks/bonds
- Recent tax returns
- Family records, birth and marriage certificates
- Important phone numbers of family members, friends, doctors, insurers — anyone who needs to know where you are
- Video and photo inventory documenting your valuables and the interior and exterior of your home
- Cash and/or traveler’s checks
- “Basic Tips for Emergency Planning” handout
List your other valuable documents here:
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