Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables

SAFEGUARD

CRITICAL

DOCUMENTS AND

VALUABLES

When disaster strikes, your immediate concern will be your safety and the safety of those you care about. Once the

immediate danger passes, however, having your ﬁnancial and medical records and important contact information

will be crucial to help you start the recovery process quickly. Taking time now to safeguard these critical documents

will give you peace of mind, ensure you have access to essential medical and prescription information, and help you

avoid additional stress during the difﬁcult days following a disaster.

In addition, take the time now to think about the priceless personal items you would want to protect from damage

or take with you if you had to suddenly evacuate your home.

The ﬁrst step is to take an inventory of your household documents, contacts, and valuables. The checklist below will get

you started. Then download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) at www.ready.gov/ﬁnancialpreparedness

for more complete checklists and guidance on collecting and safeguarding this important information.

Put a checkmark next to any item that you may need to collect and safeguard. Be sure to include emergency contact

phone numbers or other contact information with your documentation for questions that may arise following a disaster.

HOUSEHOLD

IDENTIFICATION

Think about the documents you would need to identify yourself

and your household members, including children and pets, your

relationships, or status. These may include:

Vital records (birth, marriage, divorce certiﬁcate, adoption, child custody papers)

Passport, driver’s license, Social Security card, green card, military service

identiﬁcation, other

Pet ownership papers, identiﬁcation tags

FEMA P-1096/July 2018

FINANCIAL

AND LEGAL

DOCUMENTATION

If your home or income is impacted by a disaster, you will need

documentation to request assistance from insurance providers

and from government disaster assistance programs.

Housing: lease or rental agreement, mortgage, home equity line of credit, deed

Vehicle: loan documents, VIN, registration, title

Other Financial Obligations: utility bills, credit cards, student loans, alimony,

child support, elder care, automatic payments such as gym memberships

Financial Accounts: checking, savings, debit cards, retirement, investment

Insurance Policies: homeowners, renters, auto, life, ﬂood, appraisals, photos,

and lists of valuable items

Sources of Income: pay stubs, government beneﬁts, alimony, child support

Tax Statements: Federal/state income tax returns, property tax, vehicle tax

Estate Planning: will, trust, power of attorney

MEDICAL

INFORMATION

Health/dental insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, VA health beneﬁts

List of medications, immunizations, allergies, prescriptions,

medical equipment and devices, pharmacy information

Living will, medical power of attorney

Caregiver agency contract or service agreement

Disabilities documentation

Contact information for doctors/specialists, dentists,

pediatricians, veterinarians

EMERGENCY

OR HOTLINE

CONTACT INFORMATION

FOR HOUSEHOLD

Employers/supervisors

Schools

Houses of worship

Social service providers

Homeowners Associations

Home Repair Services: utilities, plumber, roofer, carpenter, electrician

VALUABLES

AND PRICELESS

PERSONAL ITEMS

Priceless personal mementos, family photos, and keepsakes

Possessions with monetary value, including jewelry, art, and collectibles

PROTECT

YOUR DOCUMENTS

AND VALUABLES

Once you have gathered your ﬁnancial, legal, and contact

information, it is essential to safeguard this information.

Consider storing paper copies of important documents at home in a ﬁreproof

and waterproof box or safe, in a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted

friend or relative. If you are using a safe deposit box, you may want to ask

your bank or check state laws to conﬁrm who can and cannot access the

safe deposit box if the lessee dies or is incapacitated.

Store electronic copies of important documents in a password-protected

format on a removable ﬂash or external hard drive in your ﬁreproof and

waterproof box or safe, or consider using a secure cloud-based service.

Visit www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/st04-019 to learn how to use electronic

encryption to protect sensitive information.

Think about where you store valuable belongings and ways to better protect

these items. If you have valuable items stored in a basement, you may want

to move them to a higher location and put them in waterproof containers to

avoid water damage. Or you may want to keep small items in a ﬂood/ﬁreproof

home safe. You may also want to secure items that are displayed on shelves

or walls if your home may be subject to high winds or earthquakes.

Thank you for doing your part to prepare! Spread the word and encourage others

to join the movement at www.ready.gov/prepare.

FEMA P-1096

Catalog No. 17166-4

Assemble or

Update

Supplies

Get Involved in

Your Community

for Alerts

and Warnings

Plan with

Neighbors

Make a Plan

Make Your

Home

Safer

Document and

Insure Property

Safeguard

Documents

Know

Evacuation

Routes

Practice

Emergency

Drills

EXIT

Save for a

Rainy Day

Test Family

Communication

Plan

12 WAYS TO PREPARE