Increase your ability to cope with and recover from a natural disaster.

Take a few hours now to organize your legal and financial records: Build a Financial First Aid Kit.

Benefits:

• Reduces fear and anxiety before and during a disaster.
• Allows you to keep your finances running smoothly after a disaster.

If the worst happens...
you will have the records needed to establish your identity, apply for aid, and start rebuilding your life.

1. Gather up all your important legal and financial documents in one place.

Not sure what to include? Use this list as a starting point*:
     • IDs such as driver's licenses, passports, and 
        Social Security cards 
     • a photo of each family member
     • marriage and divorce papers  
     • birth, adoption and/or naturalization records
     • Important phone and email addresses
     • account numbers and passwords 
     • credit cards and loans
     • tax returns
     • medical information
     • property records
     • estate planning documents

2. Make copies of all documents.

Scan and save the copies to a USB flash drive or other portable device. Or, photocopy the documents and put them in re-sealable plastic bags.

3. Create a “Financial Grab and Go Box”.

Store the copies in a portable, secure, waterproof and fireproof container. Put the container in an easy-to-reach place and make sure everyone in the household knows where it is.

4. Back-up your system.

As recent event have shown, a disaster might destroy the place where a person's financial records are stored. Protect yourself against this possibility. Give a copy of the records stored in your grab and go box to a trusted relative, friend or financial advisor outside the geographical area where you live.
 
5. Update documents and information once a year.

A good time to do this is just after you submit your income tax return. You'll already have most of the updated information and/or any new documents (such as your current tax return) readily available.

Note:  It took me about 3 hours on a Saturday morning complete Steps 1- 4. 

*For a detailed checklist of documents, see the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit developed by Operation HOPE (Available in English and Spanish).