To ensure that you are protected after an emergency, obtain property, health, and life insurance, if you do not have them. Review existing policies for the amount and extent of coverage to ensure that what you have in place is what is required for you and your family for all possible hazards. In addition, it is necessary to protect and preserve your family’s valuable personal, financial, and insurance records. During the excitement of an emergency situation, it is easy to forget about protecting important records. Instead, prepare for such an event by making sure these records are already part of your emergency kit.
Important Records
Personal:
- Military ID cards
- Driver's licenses
- Birth certificates and adoption paperwork
- Marriage licenses and divorce records
- Social Security cards
- Passports
- Citizenship papers
- Medical records
- Immunization records
- Wills
- Household goods inventory from last PCS
- Vehicle registration/ownership records
- Power(s) of attorney (personal/property)
Financial:
- Tax returns and property tax statement
- Bank/credit union statements
- Credit/debit card statements
- Retirement accounts
- Investment accounts
- All income records (including government benefits, child support, and alimony)
- Mortgage statements or lease
- Bills (electricity, gas, water)
Insurance:
- Health insurance cards
- Insurance statements (property, rental, auto, and life)
Print the PDF at the bottom to get a checklist you can use to help gather and inventory these records.
Preparing Your Records for an Emergency
- Make sure you have dated copies of all important personal, financial, and insurance records.
- If possible, make electronic copies and store them on a thumb drive to be placed in your emergency kit.
- Place important records in a waterproof/fireproof container to be taken with you in case of an emergency.
After a Declared Emergency
- Register your needs with the Navy through the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) at https://navyfamily.navy.mil or call 1-877-414-5358 or 1-866-297-1971 (TDD).
Where to Find Additional Information
