Preparing a 'grab and go' kit for an emergency

By Don Kuehn

Massive evacuations from coastal cities during hurricane season may have left you wondering what you’d do in that situation. The Gulf Coast isn’t the only region of the country where nature’s fury could roust residents from their homes. Not long after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, massive flooding soaked the Northeast, flash floods struck Kansas and Hurricane Wilma hit Florida. Tornadoes are a threat in the nation’s mid-section. Brush fires and mudslides seem to be annual events in California. Every part of the country has the potential for earthquakes and no one’s home is immune to fire.

If law enforcement rolled through your neighborhood and ordered you to evacuate in an hour, what would you grab on your way out the door? This is a good time to take stock and prepare.

You need a “grab and go” kit—preferably in a lockable, fireproof box that’s light enough to carry.

What goes in the box? Let’s start with personal information you might need to rebuild your life: copies of birth certificates, marriage licenses, military records and discharge papers, copies of your health insurance cards, passports, résumés, divorce decrees and any domestic relations orders.

Copy the declarations page (usually the front page) from your homeowner’s, flood, life and auto insurance policies. These usually include the company’s name and contact information.

You’ll also need medical records, immunization histories for your school-age children and copies of your wills and medical directives. Don’t forget a list of medications and prescription numbers as well as your pharmacy’s phone number.

It’s a good idea to photograph every member of your family, your pets and possessions. Make a personal phone and e-mail directory of friends, relatives, insurance companies, bank and mortgage companies, doctors and dentists, and back up your computer’s hard drive.

This is also a good time to double-check the terms of your homeowner’s policy to be sure it covers the full replacement cost—not depreciated value—of your home and its contents. Renters take note: You need insurance, too. A landlord’s policy will not cover damage to your personal possessions.

Now, let’s talk about your money. Start with a copy of your credit report. It has all of your account numbers and the names and addresses for all of your creditors in one place.

If you have a living trust or other financial plan, a copy should be in your kit with account numbers for all your investments, bank and brokerage accounts. Include copies of the titles to your home and automobiles, powers of attorney and a few pre-addressed envelopes to mail your mortgage, car and other payments.

While you’re getting your documents together, check to see if beneficiary designations need to be updated. If you have moved since wills or trusts were executed, your new state of residence may have special legal requirements that must be met.

The originals of most documents should be kept in a bank safe-deposit box. Of course, there is a chance that your bank will be affected by the same conditions that sent you packing, but between your box and the bank’s, you should have at least one surviving copy of everything you need to get back on your feet … then hope you never need to.