Imagine how hard it would be after a disaster if you couldn’t prove your identity or if you didn’t have access to your bank account. Avoid difficult situations by making copies of your important documents and keeping them in a waterproof bag.

Include the following items:

• Current photo IDs, driver licenses, birth records, Social Security cards, passports (always keep your social security number separate from other documents to decrease the risk of identity theft)
• Current photos of family members, in case you get separated
• Health insurance and prescription cards
• Medical records, medications, and dosages
• Phone numbers (family, friends, doctors)
• Bank account information
• Wills
• Insurance documents (homeowner, renter, flood, life)
• Property deeds, leases, mortgages
• Vehicle titles, insurance, leases, loan documents
• Inventory of household possessions and their value (take photos of every room, every drawer, every closet)
• Backup computer files on a USB drive
• Copies of important keys
• Utility bills (to prove where you live)