Finding Copies of Your Lost Records in Iowa
Release Date: August 7, 2008
Release Number: 1763-140
» More Information on Iowa Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
DES MOINES, Iowa -- As an Iowan rebuilding your life washed away by recent floods, you may need to replace lost identification cards and records of your finances. If your personal financial documents have been lost or destroyed, you will need to find copies.
In some cases, you will need to prove your identity before a lost record can be replaced. Your first need may be for an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, passport, driver's license or state-issued identification card.
Copies of Iowa birth certificates, death certificates and marriage licenses, can be obtained in person from the Iowa county where they were issued or from the Iowa Department of Public Health in person, by phone or ordered online.
For information, call the state Health Statistics office at 515-281-4944 from 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays. A recording gives instructions for submitting a written application by mail, in person walk-in requests at the state health statistics office or ordering with a credit card
Copies can also be obtained from the Iowa Department of Public Health at www.idph.state.ia.us and follow the link to Vital Records.
Driver's licenses and state-issued identification cards lost in the storms can be replaced at no cost by visiting your nearest driver's license station. For information on the nearest station and hours of service call 800-532-1121, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except state holidays. Statewide locations can also be found at www.dot.state.ia.us/mvd/ods/dlsites.htm.
Duplicate motor vehicle and trailer titles and registrations issued in Iowa and lost in the floods or tornadoes can be obtained at no cost by visiting your local county treasurer's office.
To get information on how to replace a lost Social Security card, go to www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf. You may call Social Security at 800-772-1213 for more information or contact your local office.
The IRS has copies of your federal tax records and filings for the last three years. For federal records, call toll-free 800-829-1040. The Iowa Department of Revenue's Tax Division, which keeps state income tax records, can be reached by calling 800-367-3388 or 515-281-3114. Helpful information is also available from the "Disaster Relief for Taxpayers" link on their Web site at www.state.ia.us/tax.
Contact your local financial institutions (banks, credit unions or savings and loans) for copies of bank statements, loan applications or other financial records. Credit card records can also be replaced by calling the customer service number on the back of your card or through the issuing company's Web site.
Call your insurance agent or company to get copies of your insurance policies, recent billing statements, cash-value statements and other applicable information.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 07-Aug-2008 12:06:12