Natural disasters — like wildfires and tornadoes— can wreak havoc at any time. Last May was a particularly active tornado season across the United States, including at least six tornadoes and straightline winds that devastated multiple counties in Arkansas. Just last month, South Carolina saw a 2,000+ acre wildfire break out near neighbors close to Myrtle Beach, and no one can forget the shocking images of the Eaton County, California wildfires just a few months ago. No matter where you live, it’s important to be prepared in the event of an evacuation with little notice.
Besides necessities like clothing, medication, and toiletries, you should ensure that part of your emergency plan includes important documents for all family members in an easily accessible place. Below, we’ll be covering 18 essential documents to include in your emergency plan.
In this article:
- Important documents should be kept in easily accessible waterproof and fireproof document bags in the case of an emergency.
- Key documents to include in your emergency plan are government-issued IDs, financial documents, legal documents, health and medical documents, and property documents.
- If documents are damaged or destroyed during a natural disaster, there are ways to replace these, though some items are easier to replace than others.
Include these 18 Documents in Your Emergency Plan:
Keep the following important documents in an easy-to access location so you can quickly grab them in case of an emergency. Take your safekeeping a step further by storing documents in waterproof and fireproof document bags.
Government-Issued IDs:
- Birth certificates
- Social Security cards
- Passports
- Driver’s licenses (or other state-issued IDs)
Financial Documents:
- Bank account information (account numbers, routing numbers)
- Debit and credit cards
- Insurance policies (health, auto, life, home, etc.)
- Tax returns for the last three tax years
- Mortgage or lease agreements
- Retirement account details
Legal Documents:
- Will and trust documents
- Power of attorney (financial and medical)
- Marriage and divorce certificates
Health and Medical Information:
- Medical records (vaccinations, prescriptions, surgeries)
- Health insurance cards
Property and Ownership Documents:
- Deeds for home or property
- Vehicle titles and registration
Digital Information:
- Account login information and passwords (if kept as written records as opposed to an online password vault)
What happens if you lose key documents during an emergency?
While it may be time-consuming, many important documents needed for your emergency plan can be replaced if lost during an emergency.
Identification Documents
Passports: If you lose your passport in certain qualifying natural disasters, federal law allows you to apply for a new passport with the fee waived. This page on the U.S. Department of State website lists which natural disasters qualify (based on calendar year) and the steps for applying for a new passport.
Driver’s License: The process of replacing your driver’s license will depend on your state. Many allow you to replace it online, while others may require you to visit the DMV in order to replace it.
Social Security Card: Social security cards can be replaced online or by making an appointment at your local SSA office. Whether or not you can replace your card online (vs. at the office) will depend on your particular situation. By answering a few questions here on the Social Security Administration website, you can determine whether you can replace it online or if you will need to make an in-person appointment.
Bank, Financial Documents, and Insurance Policies
Debit and Credit Cards: You can request a replacement card from your bank by phone or online.
Tax Records: You can request transcripts of past tax returns on the IRS website.
Insurance Policies: Contact your insurance company directly to replace any insurance policy documentation.
Property Documents
Property Deeds: The recorded deed, not the physical document itself, is what determines primary evidence of home ownership. You can obtain a certified copy from the county recorder’s office.
Car Titles: You can apply for a duplicate car title through your state’s DMV if yours is lost or damaged in a natural disaster.
Medical Records
Your doctor’s office should be able to provide you with replacement records if you’ve lost medical documentation.
Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates
Birth, marriage, and death certificates can often be replaced by contacting your state or county’s vital records office.
Legal Documents
Legal documents like a will are more difficult to replace. For wills and other estate documents, the easiest method for replacing these documents may be to work with your attorney to draft a new document, with a clause that revokes all prior wills. This, of course, only applies to rewriting wills while the person is still living.
Prepare your finances for any scenario with the help of a Landmark CPA
While circumstances like natural disasters are out of your control, you can make smart choices now to prepare a personal emergency plan as well as prepare your finances for emergencies. With a full range of services from tax planning and management to accounting and bookkeeping to business consulting, we can help you make wise financial decisions. Get started here.