PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY

Our personal information and identity are essential information for our daily lives. During times of disaster, it will be vital that you have access and/or copies to important documents verifying personal information and property. Included in your emergency kit, you will need waterproof containers to store your important information and critical records. In today’s age of technology, we can easily store our records digitally and can store those records in multiple locations to ensure safekeeping. In many instances following a large-scale disaster, utilities and technology may be unusable. It is not uncommon for long-term power outages to occur following a hurricane. For this reason, you will want to maintain a paper copy of these important documents in your emergency kit to take with you when you evacuate. The following is a list of suggested document copies to include in your waterproof container:

• Copy of identification (driver’s licenses, work ID, Social Security card, birth certificate, marriage license, etc.)

• Current photographs of family members

• Copy of credit cards with company names, addresses and phone numbers

• Contact list of important names and phone numbers

• Medications and prescription information as well as medical records

• Banking information such as account numbers, debit cards, and contact information for your bank

• Insurance information and policies

• Deeds, titles, mortgage information for your property

• Portable hard drive of computer files

• A complete inventory of your household belongings and photograph items to verify value. Keep a hard copy record, and you may also email a digital copy to a friend or relative for safe keeping.

You can take measures to secure this information TODAY. Collecting these copies of your important documents BEFORE an emergency will be much easier than trying to collect it after. You may be unable to access your home or property for a period of time, or your documents may be destroyed. Cell phones may be unusable due to damaged cell towers or no battery life.