Insurance & Important Documents

After a fire, flood or storm, the hardest part can be proving who you are, what you own and what you are insured for. Organizing key papers before a disaster makes recovery faster and keeps scammers away.

• Homeowners
• Renters
• Families

What to gather

• Photo ID, passports, Social Security cards and birth, marriage and adoption certificates
• Insurance policies: home or renters, auto, health, life and flood, with policy numbers and agent phone numbers
• Deeds, mortgage or lease papers, vehicle titles and loan papers
• Bank and credit account information, and tax records
• Medical records, vaccination records, a medication list and prescriptions. See Medication Safety
• Wills, powers of attorney and advance directives
• Contact lists with family, doctors, employers and utilities
• Pet records and vaccination proof. See Pets & Emergencies

Store copies safely

• Keep originals in a fire- and water-resistant box or a safe-deposit box, and copies in your go bag. See Emergency Kit.
• Make encrypted digital copies in cloud storage and on a USB drive kept elsewhere. Use strong passwords and two-step sign-in. See Backups and Two-Factor Authentication.
• Give a trusted person a copy or tell them where to find it.
• Do not leave your Social Security number or account passwords in plain, unprotected files.

Home inventory

• Walk through each room and take photos or video, including closets, garage and receipts for big items.
• List brand, model, purchase date and price for valuable items. Apps and spreadsheets can help.
• Update after large purchases, and store the file off site.

Know your insurance

• Read what is covered and what is not. Flood and earthquake damage are generally not covered by a standard homeowners policy; separate coverage is usually needed. Flood policies often have a waiting period.
• Know your deductibles, and any separate wind or hurricane deductible.
• Ask about coverage for living expenses if you cannot stay home.
• After a loss, photograph damage, make temporary repairs to prevent further damage, keep receipts and report the claim promptly. See Disaster Cleanup.

Last updated: October 8, 2026