Abstract: When one reads the phrase “disaster
prep,” bottled water and boarded-up windows may come to mind. But information
is also a critical asset to have following a natural or manmade catastrophe.
This article describes four specific types of information that everyone needs
to keep on hand.
4 types of information you need to prepare for
disaster
When you read the phrase “disaster prep,” you may envision bottled water and boarded-up windows. But information is also a critical asset to have following a natural or manmade catastrophe. Here are four specific types of information you need:
1.
Personal
identification records. These documents will enable you to prove the identity
of your family members, maintain contact with relatives and employers, and apply
for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (if
necessary) after a disaster. These records include driver’s licenses, birth
certificates, marriage and divorce licenses, passports, and Social Security
cards.
2.
Financial
and legal documentation. This category includes documents related to financial
accounts, insurance policies, your estate (for example, your last will and
testament), and your tax and ongoing financial obligations, such as your
mortgage, car payments and credit cards. You will still be responsible for
these obligations after a disaster, so make sure you can access these documents
easily.
3.
Medical
information. This includes the names and contact information for
your doctors, copies of health insurance policies and identification cards,
immunization records, a list of medications you take, and copies of current
prescriptions. Such information could be crucial in the immediate aftermath of
a disaster.
4.
Important
financial contacts. There may be several different professional advisors you’ll
want to contact as soon as possible quickly following a catastrophe. They likely
include your insurance agent, attorney, CPA, bank representative and investment
advisor. Store their contact information in your mobile phone or, better yet,
in a cloud data storage server so you can access it from anywhere.
© 2019