Natural or man-made disasters can hit any family at any time. Ensuring the personal safety of you and your loved ones is your number one priority. But being prepared for the aftermath by organizing your critical documents and communicating their location to designated individuals can save you many problems later should the unexpected occur.
Could you locate all your family’s important documents quickly in the event of an accident, evacuation or disaster? Or could they find them should you be incapacitated or become separated from each other? If not, here are some important steps to take.
It’s a good idea to keep document originals in one location, with backup copies stored in at least one additional, equally secure place. A fire- and waterproof box that can be locked and is small enough to carry is a good way to keep documents nearby, but safe from damage or theft. A safe deposit box at a bank is another secure location. Copies can also be stored with a family member or friend.
Critical documents that you should be able to quickly access include:
· Passports, birth certificates and social security cards
· List of insurance policies, policy numbers and contact information
· Copies of wills, living wills, power of attorneys and healthcare proxies
· List of bank, retirement and investment accounts, account numbers and contact information
· Titles to your car or home and sales receipts or proof of ownership of other high-value items
· List of loan or debt obligations such as mortgages or credit cards, account numbers, balances and contact information
Other documents to think about collecting, making copies of and storing in a central location include medical histories, physicians’ contact information, dental records, past years’ tax filings, and Internet account user IDs and passwords.
A videotape — also copied and stored in multiple locations — is a good way to record your material possessions, and will help you remember everything and prove ownership for insurance claims if your property is destroyed.
Finally, it is especially important to let a trusted family member or friend know where your important documents are so that they can access them and take action should you be unable to temporarily, or in the worst case, permanently. While no one likes to think about the implications of a personal or community disaster, taking these steps will help you minimize the impact.