In this week’s Tuesday Tip video, learn how to be prepared! Organize key financial & family documents to help you prepare in the event of a natural disaster. Please watch the video below to learn more. If you would like a free review of your current financial situation, please use this link to schedule a free call. You can find an edited transcript below the video.
When disaster strikes, having key financial and family documents organized and protected can make recovery much smoother. Living in Maryland, this is not something I think about all that often, but when the increase in natural disasters in many areas of the country has made this more top of mind for many of us. In the past, I’ve discussed how long to keep financial documents.
This week, I’d like to review some of the financial and family items you might need if a natural disaster strikes where you live:
Personal Identification
- Birth certificates
- Social Security cards
- Passports/Visas
- Driver’s licenses or state IDs
- Marriage or divorce certificates
- Adoption papers
- Military and VA records
I recognize not all the above items apply to everyone in all cases. I’d rather name more items than fewer.
Financial Accounts, Banking, & Tax Information
- Access to a password manager or password book so you can access your bank and credit card accounts.
- Electronic copies of important documents such as recent tax returns that are backed up to the cloud.
- Bank or ATM card or cash and checkbook
Property, Insurance Documents, and Medical Information
- Health insurance documents/Medical cards
- Car insurance documents and registration
- Home insurance documents
- Prescriptions
- Medical contacts (doctors, pharmacies)
Estate Planning & Legal Documents
- Wills
- Power of attorney
- Titles/Deeds/Property documents
Additional Family and Financial Items to Prepare for a Natural Disaster
- Thumb drive with a video of your house and its contents (this can also be stored on the cloud)
- Video documentation of the contents of your house, all rooms, all drawers open, closet contents, basement, garage, attic, and any valuable artwork.
- Veterinary records for pets, including rabies and other necessary information. This is especially important if you need to board your pets.
- Contact information for family and emergency contacts.
You should keep these documents/items both physically secure and digitally backed up in the cloud. This will allow you to access them when needed, even if physical copies are lost or damaged. You can also share copies with a trusted relative or attorney. Please note that any items stored on the cloud should be encrypted through your cloud provider so they cannot be easily accessed.
Having these Financial and family Items ready to Prepare for a Natural Disaster ahead of time can make it much easier to recover if disaster strikes, and I hope it doesn’t. I hope you find that taking these steps helps you stay safe and be prepared. Unfortunately, we never know when disaster might hit.
I hope you find this information helpful.
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