How to prepare for Natural Emergencies
Power outages, floods, earthquakes......
Over the years, this area has been effected by a number of natural diseasters. Where do you go for information?
Historically, local radio station KSCO (1080 on the A.M. dial), has been the main source of information about local school closures and other relevant information. If we have torrential rains, strong winds, trees down, power outages, and street flooding, your home and/or business can be effected for days. a day. You can check with KSCO early in the morning for a listing of school closures.
Sometimes, if the local event is significant enough, Bay Area radio stations KGO (810 A.M.) and/or KCBS (740 A.M.), have covered Santa Cruz County news.
Several websites are excellent sources of information to help you prepare for what may happen. They include the California Department of Emergency Services, the Department of Health Services, FEMA, the ASPCA, and P.G. and E. Here are links to these websites:
The "Red File"
The Red File is something that has been around for a while. It was mentioned on a television news program in conjunction with information for people in Southern California who were in/near the devastating forest fires. It's information we all need available in times of emergency.
The Red File includes copies of everything that is necessary for you or your family to rebuild your financial and operational life in the aftermath of an event that either limits your access to your home and/or office, or destroys your home and/or office. What you need to do with The Red File®is discussed in other handouts, and at www.theredfile.com. The following is a "suggested" list of items to be included in the file and should be used only as a starting point for your personal situation. You will need to adjust the list to cover all aspects of your life.
Copies of:
* Birth certificates for everyone in your household
* Social
Security Cards for everyone in your household
* Marriage certificate
(hopefully, there is only one!)
* Religious certificates (e.g.,
Baptism, Ketubah, etc.)
* Adoption papers (if applicable)
*
Drivers licenses for everyone in your household (color copies)
* Deed
to your residence (first few pages containing the municipality ID
numbers for the location of the property)
* Mortgage documents and
other loan documents * Title for cars owned by everyone in your
household
* Insurance policies and agent/agency contact
information
* Health insurance, prescription and/or other benefit
cards
* Credit/Debit/ATM cards (color copies, both sides)
*
Inventory list of household items, and personal items at office
*
Photographic inventory of household and office items
* Tax returns
for a minimum of three years
* Wills, Living Wills, Health Care
Proxies, Letters of Instruction, and Powers of Attorney
* Trusts for
which you are a trustee, or in which you have a beneficial interest
* Location of safe deposit boxes with the names of authorized
signatories (and the location of the keys to the boxes)
* List of contact information for all advisors, executors, trustees and
guardians
* Recent bank statements and brokerage statements
*
Several blank checks from each checking account (not copies)
* ID
cards issued by your banks
* Documents that prove ownership of
private placements and alternative investments
* List of all User
IDs and Passwords for access to all electronic based information
formats
* A complete list of assets and liabilities, with a footnote
for each item (containing details of ownership and the contact
information for all persons and entities relevant to the ongoing status
of that asset or liability)
* Photographs of everyone in the
household and all others for whom you are responsible
* Photographs
and health records for household pets.
Make two copies of everything you place in The Red File®. You will need to keep one file in your possession and you will send the other file to a trusted family member, friend or fiduciary.
If you choose to use an electronic format to store this information, you should include the storage device (e.g., CD, floppy disk, flash drive, etc.) in The Red File® as an addition to the physical paper copies.
Please remember that the above list is not "all inclusive". Some of us
have very simple lives, and some of us have extremely complicated
lives.
Some of us will be able to use an envelope or small box to
complete our file and some will need a large trunk! Review all aspects
of your life and determine what paperwork would be crucial to the
ongoing financial health and operational needs of you and your
family.
Start now!!!