The Essential Records Bag should be taken with you or stored it in a fire and flood safe location or put in a waterproof safe deposit box.

Here is what you need to address when you prepare to leave:

Essential Records Bag (review and update home inventory annually)

• Waterproof Plastic container
• Pencils, pen, paper, & Scissors
• List of bills with business addresses, account number, phone number, and due dates
• Inventory of house and/or pictures (paper, video, pictures-update annually)
• List -Family members, physicians and dentist for (name and phone)
• Copies of Life, Medical, and Homeowner Insurance (company, phone, account number)
• Important Family Information including person not located locally (names and phone)
• Medical Devices Information (brand, model & serial # of devices such as a pace maker, glasses, hearing aids)
• Medical supplies and reserve prescription medications in containers with proper labels
• Birth certificates for each person
• Marriage certificate
• Social Security cards, passports
• Stocks, bonds, and other securities 
• Wills, powers of attorney, and other legal papers
• Deeds
• Recent tax returns
• Digital camera/cell phone and flash drives to document any damage for insurance.  Copy photos to 2 or more flash drives (insurance & you).

Other Documents to take with You (papers that will be needed if there is damage to your neighborhood or your home or could be lost).  You may need to show your driver's license to proceed past a police checkpoint and return home.

• Driver's license or personal identification for each (proof of residence)
• Checkbook, Credit Cards (Banks may be closed and ATM's not working)
• Cash