Expect the unexpected! Ensure you have your important information handy in an emergency, either for your own use or for others to use on your behalf.

The only cost for your Go-To Emergency Kit is your time!

Where do I begin?

  1. Find five large folders or envelopes and label them in bold letters: Estate, Family, Finances, Health, Home/Possessions

  2. Review the Go-To Emergency Kit Contents section (below) to decide what documents you will be needing.

  3. Sort through your paperwork and find those documents. Put whatever is relevant (the original, a copy, a scan, or a picture) in the appropriate folder/envelope.

  4. Put the folders/envelopes someplace safe but easily accessible, and let trusted family members or friends know the location. If you opt to store them in a drawer or on a shelf, make sure they’re readily visible; alternately, you can put them in a portable “go-bag”container.

  5. Make a list of what’s missing. Then chip away at the list, prioritizing the categories of Personal and Health.

  6. Learn more about any item by referring to the Claro NW Resources page.

Go-To Emergency Kit Contents

You don’t have to write everything down yourself. Much of the information you need will already be included in your monthly bills, account statements, and policy documents. Highlight important information and add comments to anything that isn’t self-explanatory, so that in times of stress, anyone will be easily able to find what matters. Don’t forget the cards in your wallet! Scan or take pictures of them, front and back.

Estate

  1. Durable power of attorney: Provide a copy or write down where to find a copy of your durable power of attorney, as well as the safe place where the original is kept. Make sure it is up-to-date.

  2. Will/Living Trust: Provide a copy or write down where to find a copy of your will/living trust, as well as the safe where the original is kept. Make sure it is up-to-date.

  3. Safe deposit: Write down the location of your safe deposit box, where you keep the key, and the name of any other accountholders. (It is recommended to have at least one other person who can legally access your safe deposit box in case you are unavailable.) List the contents.

Family

  1. Write down your passwords and user names for your health, financial, and social media accounts. Include other passwords as desired. If you use a password manager, activate the option to include an emergency user, and write down the name of that user, along with their contact information.

  2. Write down your cellphone, computer, voice mail log-in and/or access codes.

  3. Provide the names of your important people. Indicate where you keep their contact information and, as necessary, describe their relationship to you (e.g., daughter, friend, neighbor).

Finances

  1. Credit cards: Provide type of card, bank name, name on account, account number, expiration date, security code. Provide information on how you make your regular payments.

  2. Mortgage, other loans: Provide lender name, name on account, account number. Provide information on how you make your regular payments.

  3. ATM/debit cards: Provide bank name, name on account, account number, expiration date, security code, PIN.

  4. Bank accounts: Provide bank name, name on account, account number, website and log-in information. Write down where you keep your blank checks.

  5. Insurance: Provide copies of insurance declaration pages (auto, home, liability), or write down where you keep them. Provide information on how you make your regular payments.

Health

  1. Hospital and urgent care: Where do you want to go for urgent care or emergency services? Make sure these facilities will be covered by your health insurance.

  2. Primary care doctor: Who is your PCP, and what is their phone number? After-hours contact information? Website portal and log-in information? Write down your birthdate, as it may be needed to retrieve medical information.

  3. 24-Hour Nurse Line: If your insurance company offers a 24-hour Nurse Line, what is their phone number?

  4. Health insurance: Include a copy of all of your health insurance cards, front and back. List website and log-in information if relevant.

  5. Medications: What medications do you regularly take? (Include prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements.) Where do you keep your prescription medicines? Which pharmacy has them on record? Do you have prescription drug insurance?

  6. Medical directives: Do you have an advance directive? Medical power of attorney? Make sure both are up-to-date. Put a copy of your advance directives in an envelope labeled “911” and stick it on your refrigerator. (Note that copies are accepted as legal documents.)

Home/Possessions

  1. House keys: Where do you keep your spare house keys? Do any friends or neighbors have them?

  2. Home security system: Which company do you use? What is your access code/password? Safe word?

  3. Pet care: Who can help if necessary? Where do you keep your pet’s supplies?

  4. Car keys: Where do you keep your car keys? What is your car alarm code?

Next step?

Congratulations! Enjoy knowing that you have prepared for the unexpected in a way that will help both you and your family.

Remember to periodically review your documents and update them as necessary.

Want to continue organizing your personal and financial records? Learn more about how you can do this in the Go-To Filing System and Go-To Guide sections.

Questions? Please contact me here!