Having documents such as social security cards, birth certificates, drivers license, and even passports available in several different areas is important should an emergency occur. These documents should be copied and stored in your 72 hour kit and given to a relative or family friend for safe keeping. You might even want to consider a safe deposit box to store them. (Be sure a copy of the key is kept in your 72 hour kit.)
In addition to these documents, we need to consider protecting ourselves in a few other ways. After a natural disaster, many of the more convenient ways to get money will not be accessible. You might want to add cash to your 72 hour kit document stash, along with checking, saving, and credit card numbers and information.
Should disaster damage your home, you’ll want to have a good inventory of the items in your home. This is important should you need to report to insurance for replacement. Making an inventory list with identification numbers, where purchased, photograph, receipt, and estimated value will help you replace lost items. Also consider making an audio list of these items and if possible, take video of your home, and thoroughly document your possessions and valuables.
If you have irreplaceable family mementos, such as photograph albums, journals, or other items, you might want to consider making digital copies of these and have them backed up online and in various locations. If this isn’t possible, again, a safe deposit box might be a good option. You may also want to keep these most precious items as close as possible to your 72 hour kits and in a container that can easily be taken with you.
Don’t let an emergency rob you of your identify and your life. Take the extra precautions to protect yourself and get what you need done should you need to start from square one!