12 Months to Personal Preparedness - March
After a damaging earthquake or other disaster, it may not be "business as usual." Banks and ATMs might be closed for an indefinite period. Be prepared with an Emergency Financial Kit.
Emergency Cash
Include in your emergency kit a sufficient amount of cash to get you through the emergency period. You will need cash to purchase food, gas, and other emergency supplies. Store emergency cash in small bills (ones, fives, and tens are best).
Keep an extra credit card with available credit on hand for emergency funds.
Include plenty of change to call your out-of-state contact from a public phone. (Public phone lines are among the first to be restored after a disaster.) You can also use calling cards to make the call.
Important Documents
You will also need insurance policies, birth certificates, and other vital records after a damaging earthquake or other disaster. This personal information is necessary for insurance claims and other matters. Take steps NOW to protect these important papers. Keep important items and documents and/or copies of them in a safe deposit box, fireproof storage box, or other safe place.
Store important documents, such as:
- Social Security cards
- Birth certificates
- Marriage and death records
- Drivers' licenses
- Credit cards
- Insurance policies
- Recent income tax returns
- Mortgage or rental receipts
- Paycheck stubs
- Deeds
- Stocks and bonds
- Bank account books
- Wills
- Documentation of valuables
- Health history, allergies, blood types
- Recent photos for I.D. purposes
- Video or photo documentation will facilitate insurance claims.
Storage Tips
Options for safely storing valuables and important documents include:
- Fireproof storage box
- The home of your out-of -state contact (send only copies of documents, not the originals)
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