Important Items to Have Ready to Go in Case of Emergency

There are always things fighting for our attention and it can seem like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. It’s tempting to put certain tasks off, especially when they involve preparing for something that may not happen. If you are fortunate enough, you will never need to evacuate your home on short notice. However, life is unpredictable. The devastating images from the California wildfires show how rapidly a disaster can strike. It’s a tragic reminder that no matter where you live, someday you may find yourself forced to gather your loved ones and leave in a hurry. The last thing you will have time for is organizing important records and documents that you WILL need to rebuild your life in the aftermath of loss. If you take some time to prepare a financial “go bag” now, you will be ready should you ever need to flee your house quickly.

Organize and store your bag.

There will be quite a few things that you will want to include in your go bag and the better organized you can keep them, the easier they will be to work with if you find yourself in a stressful situation. You can manage all the elements in a way that works for you, but here are two simple and effective methods:

  1. Three-ring binder. You can keep pages in protective sleeves and divided by sections such as vital records, insurance policies, bank records, home records, etc.
  2. Waterproof pouches with labels indicating contents.

Once you’ve gathered your essentials, focus on keeping them protected and accessible. Store important documents in a watertight container that’s easy to grab in an emergency. Whether you keep this container in a file cabinet or a safe, ensure that the storage location is both fireproof and waterproof.

What should be in your go bag?

There are some things you typically carry in your wallet such as your driver’s license, ATM card, credit cards and insurance cards. You will bring your wallet with you if you ever evacuate, but it also can be helpful to include photocopies of some of these cards along with the other items in your go bag. The additional documents listed are your original documents.

Your bag should contain these records (as they apply) for EACH MEMBER of your household:

  • Social Security cards
  • Birth certificates
  • Passports
  • Marriage/divorce certificates
  • Adoption certificate
  • Naturalization certificate
  • Driver’s license
  • Health insurance cards
  • Property deeds
  • Titles to vehicles

 

One list with important information at a glance

Depending on conditions, phone service and internet access may not be reliable. You should keep a single printed list that includes important contact and account information. Your go bag will also contain copies of policies and documents but having everything centralized on one list can be helpful. Include any relevant contact names, phone numbers and account numbers. You can also include usernames and passwords in case you do have online access. However, you may wish to write down password hints for yourself instead of the actual passwords for your accounts.

  • Insurance policies. This may include homeowners, health, auto, life, long-term, etc. List the account information and customer service numbers for each plan.
  • Insurance agents
  • Bank accounts
  • Brokerage accounts
  • Mortgage company or landlord
  • Credit card accounts
  • Financial advisor
  • Tax preparer
  • Attorney
  • Executor of your estate
  • Names and contact details of people named in your medical directives
  • Contact information for a family member or trusted friend who does not live in the same area that is being impacted.

 

Estate Planning Documents

Your estate plan may include a last will and testament, a trust or trusts, a financial power of attorney, healthcare proxy, living will, beneficiary designations, and a last letter of instruction. It can be a good idea to keep the originals of these documents in your go bag in a fireproof and waterproof cabinet or safe at home, with digital versions of each document uploaded to a secure online vault.

Insurance Policies

Most insurance policies have a declarations page which details the coverage provided, deductibles, premiums, and important information about the policy. You should keep this in your go bag for each insurance plan you have along with relevant documentation. Common insurance policies include:

  • Homeowners insurance. Include a list of the contents of your home. It can be helpful to have pictures as well.
  • Automobile insurance. In addition to policy information, keep a copy of registrations, titles, and any lease or financing agreements for each vehicle.
  • Renters insurance
  • Umbrella insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Health insurance. Different members of your household may have different policies. Be sure to include information for each.
  • Disability insurance
  • Long-term care insurance

 

Proof of income or employment

You can either include a copy of the prior year’s tax return or two paystubs.

Cash and a Checkbook

ATMs may not be available, especially if the electricity is out. It’s a good idea to have enough cash on hand to cover living expenses for your family for one week.  Small bills are best as larger currency such as $50s and $100s may not be as readily accepted.  Having a checkbook with you may give you additional options for covering expenses.

Keys

You will want to bring any keys you have for your vehicles, house, safety deposit box, storage unit, etc.

 

While the following items are not vital to include in a financial go bag, they can be very helpful to have ready to grab in case of emergency evacuation.

Medical

  • Prescription medications. Be prepared to bring at least several days’ worth of supplies in case you will not be able to return to your home. Include a printed list of each medication and dosages for each family member.
  • Names and contact numbers of doctors
  • First aid kit with over-the-counter drugs like pain reliever, allergy medicine, etc.
  • Glasses and contact lenses

Personal  

  • Clothes for each family member for several days
  • Toiletries
  • Chargers for electronic devices
  • Proof of pet vaccinations and pet care items if you are evacuating with animals
  • Small battery-operated radio
  • Sleeping bags/pillows
  • Non-perishable food and water

Emergency items

  • LED flashlight
  • Multipurpose tool
  • Whistle

 

Of Special Note

Every emergency evacuation is different. We prepare for the worst with the sincere hope we will never experience it. When you are thinking about the items you want to include, it’s also a good idea to anticipate various scenarios or conditions. Packing a financial go bag and having additional supplies on hand is an ideal way to be ready for a controlled evacuation, such as driving to safety well in advance of a hurricane making landfall. You have the time to pack your vehicle and leave. Other times, things may happen much more quickly, and you will be forced to take action in minutes, not hours. Traveling as light as possible may be necessary. In addition to the items you want to bring in your financial go bag, it could be helpful to have a lightweight, streamlined backpack with only the essentials ready to go for each family member.

 

Protect Your Information

It’s especially important to keep close watch over the contents of your financial go bag if you ever need to bring it with you while evacuating your home. You do not want to let it fall into someone else’s hands as it’s essentially a blueprint for someone with bad intentions to steal your information and identity.  And while it can be unsettling to think you have so many important documents with you in one spot, this collection of information could be the very thing that enables you to resume or rebuild your life. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.