When putting together an emergency plan should the “Big One” happen, food, water and shelter will usually be the priorities. However, protecting your most important family documents should also be part of that plan.
In the aftermath of any emergency event some documents will be immediately important, for example insurance policies. You can keep physical copies, store electronic copies on a USB, DVD, or remotely and there are free apps on your phone where you can record copies and email them to yourself or a relative.
For birth certificates or licenses and other one-page documents you can take a picture on your phone, although these will not have legal standing, they may make it easier to replace them.
The best way to protect your documents is at either at home in a grab and go waterproof and fireproof container (easy to buy), or off-site in a safety deposit box at your bank or at the remote home of a friend or relative.
What Documents Need Protecting?
Having this information easily accessible will make getting your needs met after a disaster a lot easier when many providers will be overwhelmed.
For more information on making an emergency plan visit http://getprepared.ca/
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