List of Essential Records

Checklist of necessary family records:
Store these in a waterproof bin or ziplock bag. This takes just a bit of organization like everything else in preparing for emergencies. Make copies of the following:
1. passports
2. driver’s license
3. home owners insurance or tenant insurance policies
4. vehicle insurance policies
5. life insurance policies
6. social insurance card
7. birth certificate
8. death ceritifcate of anyone in the immediate family
9. marriage certificate
10. bank account numbers
11. credit card numbers
12. will
13. emergency family telephone numbers or someone who should be contacted.
14. immunization records
15. deeds.
16. record of household items and serial numbers on electronics. A disc or photos is even better to include with the list.
17. one of the safety deposit keys
18. last but not least, that blessed buck. It helps to have emergency cash, especially when everything else electronic may be down.

You know how they say that the most important item people want to grab if they have only one opportunity to take valuables, is their photos. Well, keep this in mind and take a weekend to organize your photos (well maybe it will take several days of a few hours each day), but you get the picture. Scanning copies onto a CD will set your mind at ease in knowing you’ve got that copy if you had to evacuate and are wondering what will become of your household belongings. And keeping them in a safe deposity box is even a better idea.