Don't Allow Disaster to Catch You Unawares

Don't wait for natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes or wildfires to strike before you rush in to save your crucial financial records. A few precautions could save endless worries later if the unthinkable happens. If the area you live in is prone to natural disasters it's a good idea to keep extra sets of your critical documents in other locations if your home catches fire or burglarized.

Disaster Recovery File a Must

Have one set of copies of your crucial papers in a safety-deposit box. Another set can be given to a trusted relative or friend in another state for the chance of disaster striking simultaneously at two different far away places is slim. Your personal finance disaster-recovery file can have copies of driver's license, credit-card account numbers and contact numbers for the issuers. It should also have your birth and marriage certificates, insurance polices, Social Security card and many more such as your last three federal and state tax returns which can help you re-create your fiscal life. Keeping copies of bank and investment account numbers, property information, including mortgages, deeds and titles and personal legal documents, such as wills, trusts and powers of attorney will save you a lot of botheration. A second option is to scan documents onto a CD/DVD if you need to evacuate.



Originals Count

Keep a fireproof box at home which you can carry if you need to evacuate quickly to store the originals. Also include cash or traveler's checks, extra supplies of medications and contact phone numbers for extended family.