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Keep life going · Money and documents

Make the Next Office Easier.

Recovery often begins with proving ordinary things: who you are, where you lived, what you owned, which policy applies, and where the account is held. A modest record set can remove several locked doors.

Start with proof and contact routes.

List the institutions that matter: identification, insurance, housing, vehicle, employer, benefits, bank, pharmacy, school, and care. Record the account or policy reference and a verified contact route.

Keep copies securely in more than one form or location. The goal is access after loss, not a traveling folder containing every fact needed to impersonate you.

Create a small recovery record.

Identity and household

Keep secure copies of identification, household relationships or authority documents, immigration documents when relevant, and contact information for replacement.

Property and insurance

Record policy numbers, claims contacts, coverage questions, photographs, serial numbers for important items, lease or deed information, and vehicle records.

Income and benefits

Keep employer, payroll, benefit, retirement, tax, and banking contacts. Note how deposits or benefits continue if mail, work, or the usual branch is interrupted.

Protect the copies

Use encryption or a reputable secure account for digital copies and a locked, water-resistant location for paper. Give access only to someone who has agreed and needs it.

Keep the plan useful without increasing risk.

Limited documentation

Start with one current ID, one housing record, one insurance or benefit contact, and a list of what must be replaced. Local legal-aid or social-service providers may help.

Cash and payments

A small amount of cash in useful denominations may bridge a card or network outage. Do not keep more than you can safely store or afford to set aside.

Shared households

Decide which records belong to each person, who may access shared records, and what authority exists for children, dependents, businesses, or estates.

Longer recovery

Claims, replacement documents, fraud monitoring, mail, taxes, loans, benefits, and contractor payments require public agencies and institutions. Keep a dated contact log.

Do not put full account numbers, access codes, passwords, or identity documents on a public worksheet. Use verified government, insurer, bank, or aid contacts; disasters attract convincing scams.

Make a record someone else can understand.

If another person may need to act, tell them what exists, where the controlled copy is, and what authority they do or do not have. Mystery is not a security system.

FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit provides a detailed framework for household, financial, legal, medical, insurance, and property records. FEMA Emergency Financial First Aid Kit.

Current public help

Find Official Help for current local authorities, alerts, utilities, health guidance, roads, weather, or shelters.

Reviewed July 25, 2026 against FEMA Emergency Financial First Aid Kit. Recheck official instructions before publication and during any interruption.