Don't Forget Your Documents When Packing for an Emergency

Having these documents in your emergency kit can save you from lots of additional stress in the event of an emergency. Read and share these tips below!

Don't forget your documents when packing for an emergency. Many of us know what to pack in our emergency kits like nonperishable foods, water, and much more... but did you know that it’s just as important to pack critical documents? Here are some of the important documents to include in your emergency kit:

Personal identification these are documents that can be used to verify your identity. Make sure your kit has: birth certificates, driver’s license, passports and Social Security cards, military ID (if applicable), marriage certificates, and a recent family photo (including all pets) to be used to identify separated family members

Medical documents. These documents help show medical history and share with health care providers how to best assist you during an emergency. These include: copies of policy numbers and insurance cards, crucial medical records that detail pre-existing conditions, list of prescribed medications for each member of the family (including pets), immunization records and allergy information, and physician names and phone numbers.

Financial documentation. Financial documentation includes key information that can help you manage your bank accounts and other finances during an emergency. Examples include: insurance information for your home, vehicles and other valuables, tax information that can be used to prove your income (first two pages of previous year’s Federal and State tax returns), current bank account information and statements, along with your bank’s contact information, and information detailing other financial obligations or commitments.

Legal documents. Legal documents contain important legal information and demonstrate rights granted. Doucments include: property titles and deeds, naturalization and citizenship documents, and wills, powers of attorney and other important legal documents.

Other important documents: personal address book, account and contact information for utilities and other services like PG&E (1-800-743-5000), and local non-emergency numbers for police, fire and ambulance.

Note: If possible, you can reduce the number of documents included in your emergency kit by creating electronic copies of important family photos, vital documents and other precious mementos. You can copy and password-protect files on a flash drive, locally on your computer or on a cloud-based storage service. Remember to store your critical documents in a waterproof file case or binder.

To learn what else to include in your emergency supply kit, take our emergency kit quiz today.