One of the leading new year’s resolutions is to “be more organized.” While you’re organizing everything from your garage to your sock drawer, it may be a good time to organize your In Case Of Emergency Grab and Go Documents kit.
The Grab and Go kit should include all the important documents or copies of those documents that you would not want destroyed in fire, flood or some other element.
There are some great products on the market that will help you get organized and may even help you think through what you need. Here is a list of things your kit should include:
- Birth certificates
- Social security cards
- Marriage licenses
- Passports
- Bank statements
- Tax Records
- Deeds
- Car Information
- Insurance policies
- Wills
- Credit Card Information
- Monthly billing information, e.g. utilities, phone bills, etc.
- Medical Insurance Information
- Medical information, e.g. doctor’s name, address, phone, prescriptions
- Pet Information, e.g. veterinary records, vet name, license information, obedience certificates
- Contact numbers
- Computer backup
- Important photos or scans of photos on display
- Valuables log with receipt or receipt information.
- Extra keys to your home and vehicles.
- Check list of things to grab on your way out of the house.
Here are some other things to consider:
- Place these items in a waterproof container. It can be as simple as a Ziploc® bag.
- Invest in a fireproof safe. It should be large enough to hold your information and valuables, but small enough to carry out quickly.
- Consider keeping an electronic record on a CD or thumbdrive or external harddrive. Scan documents and keep PDFs.
- Keep a copy of this information with a trusted friend or family member in another area.
- Let your family know where things are.