There should actually be three plans in place. One for long term, staying in your home, one for evacuation, and one for just a few hours or days without electricity or water.
Safety deposit boxes are probably the best place to keep important papers, and they are tax deductible.
A good temporary place to keep documents before your next trip to the bank is in the freezer, sealed in a plastic bag.
Alternatives to a safety deposit box in a bank:
fire proof (not fire resistant) box at home the care of a trusted friend or family member your workplace metal box buried in the ground away from the house - (as long as it is kept secret).
It is always a good idea to keep several copies in different places. It could be a nightmare to try and rebuild your life without identification numbers such as driver's license and
If authorities came to your door and said "There is an emergency - get out of your house - NOW!", what would you do?
Would you run to the one spot where you keep all important things together for just such an occasion? Would it fit into your vehicle? Would you have a full tank of gas? Would you have everything you need to keep yourself and your family safe, warm and dry, and be able to contact everyone you need to? Would your pets be taken care of?
Or would you go into a state of panic? What to do? Where to start? Who to call? Total Breakdown!
Be Strong! Be Prepared!
It isn't morose or negative thinking - it's freeing, comforting, and gives you peace of mind to know that the basics have been thought through and plans are in place.
If you think water may be a problem:
Run a bleach cycle in the washing machine, then fill with water. Sanitize bathtub and fill with water. Fill camping containers, pop bottles and other plastic dispenser with drinking water and date them. Keep containers full of water to add to the toilet tank for flushing.
What do you really need to survive?
Medication Food Water Warm clothes
What do you really love?
People Pets Pictures Collections
Things to keep in a Safety Deposit Box:
address book baptismal certificates birth certificates cash copies of credit cards copies of driver's licenses copies of health cards death certificates home inventory homeowners insurance policy life insurance policies list of bank accounts list of investments meaningful pictures Mortgage savings bonds
Things to keep in a Home Emergency Kit:
alternative cooking methods batteries battery operated radio candles, matches and lighters in a plastic bag canned food & opener cash cell phone drinking water emergency telephone numbers first aid kit flashlights lamps and oil non-perishable foods pet food water for cleaning water for drinking water for flushing the toilet
Things to Include in a Car Emergency Kit:
battery powered radio blanket booster cables bottled water cell phone fire extinguisher first aid kit flares flashlight maps non-perishable high energy foods, such as granola bars, raisins and peanut butter. shovel spare batteries spare tire
Emergency Plans for Pets:
container (cage, leash, muzzle, etc.) food identification medication water
Pets will not likely be allowed at the local emergency station (usually the closest school).
