The Importance of Important Papers

In most every publication that provides advice about how to prepare for hurricanes you will find a recommendation to gather important papers.  This piece of advice is usually an abbreviated statement that provides little to no depth regarding just what papers should be gathered, why they should be collected and how to organize them.  So, let’s talk about that.

We all have some very important documents that, if lost or destroyed, will cause us to expend a large amount of time and energy to replace.  If your house floods, or you have to evacuate, or if a tornado hits, there is a distinct possibility that those documents could be lost.  Giving some serious thought to what most needs to be protected and organizing those documents in order to keep them safe is super important.

The main idea we are trying to pass along here is that if you need to leave your home in an emergency of any type, you should have everything you need to continue to conduct your life regardless of where you are located.

The task of gathering important papers can seem daunting, and it is a bit of work, but it will be worth the effort because you will then be able to access your information when you need it.  Once you gather up your important papers, you only need to update the packet occasionally in order to be ready in the event of an emergency.

Let’s start with things like:

·       Birth certificates

·       Marriage certificates

·       Divorce decrees

·       Social security cards

·       Military records

·       Passports

·       Wills and living wills

·       Pet vet records

In addition, there is the following:

·       Health insurance info

·       Medical history summaries

·       Emergency contacts

·       Funeral pre-arrangements and

·       Life insurance

We move on to things like:

·       A list of your credit cards (and their customer service phone numbers!)

·       Bank accounts and all financial institutions you do business with

·       Safe deposit box keys and locations

And let’s not forget to have:

·       Copies of your utility bills such as phone, electric, gas, water, etc.

·       House or rental insurance

·       Flood insurance

·       Umbrella insurance

·       Car insurance

·       Last year’s income taxes!

Yes, there are many documents that you would want on hand in a worst-case scenario that not only would be frustrating and time consuming to replace, but some of those documents may be needed in order to replace other important documents.  Think about trying to replace your driver’s license if it is lost.  You need all kinds of documentation in order to replace that important document, right?  Having it available while you are in an emergency evac situation is just good planning.

Another thought to consider is to keep your documents hidden and safe if you are evacuating.  Be discreet and cover your vehicle’s contents with sheets or towels.  No one needs to see what you have in your vehicle, and you do not want to invite any unwanted attention.

For more information about protecting and organizing your important papers, please refer to your copy of our book, Real Life Hurricane Prep, Let’s Talk About That and visit our YouTube channel.

What important paperwork would you want to bring with you if you had to evacuate?