Preparedness:“Grab and Go Boxes ”

Marilyn AlbertsonUtah State University Extension

Family & Consumer Science AgentSalt Lake County

Adapted From:Teresa Hunsaker , B.S. FCS Agent, Weber County, USU Extension

Marilyn Albertson, MS, CFCS, FCS Agent, Salt Lake County USU Extension

SuzAnne Jorgensen, MS, CFCS, FCS Agent, Garfield County USU Extension

Julie Ingersoll, MS, CFCS, FCS Agent, Kane County USU Extension

Susan Cosgrove, Area Family Resource Management Agent, Mississippi State University Extension

LSU Ag Center State of Mississippi University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Virginia Cooperative Extension

St. George, Utah

Are You Prepared for Emergencies?

Natural Disasters Tornado Earthquake Flood

Fire Chemical/Bio Hazard Pandemic Medical Emergency Death of a Family

Member

St. Louis Missouri

Do You Have Your Financial Affairs Organized in Case of Emergencies?

Do you have adequate insurance to cover against risks?

Homeowners Insurance

Medical Insurance

Life Insurance

Auto Insurance

Is Your Household Prepared…Insurance cont.

Do you know what kind of homeowners insurance coverage you have and how extensive it would be if there be a flood, earthquake, theft, or other natural disaster?

How much medical insurance do you have and would it cover a severe illness, disability or hospitalization?

Do you have a life insurance policy adequate to cover needs of your family if you or your spouse were to die? If single, do you have adequate insurance to cover your bills and other expenses?

Take a Look at Your Record Keeping

Do you have important documents stored safely?

Do you know how long to store different types of records?

Do you have files set up for Family Records Property Records Financial Records Legal Records

Your Record Keeping…………….

Do you have a current

household inventory?

Do you have a financial notebook prepared for an emergency?

Have a Plan…

Prepare a financial records inventory Prepare financial records for safekeeping

Inventory your Vital Records and Treasures

Prepare photocopies of valuable papers

Organize financial papers Create a plan of articles to save Cash

Start Your Financial Information

BinderWhat for? Your Financial Information Binder is a

quick reference to your entire financial situation.

It helps manage your financial affairs It will be ready to help the person who will

manage your affairs for you in the event that you are unable to do so.

Update Yearly Maintenance?

Update annually Whenever a significant change occurs:

• birth• death • marriage • divorce• relocation• purchase • sale of assets

Activity…

On a piece of scratch paper or note paper, please write down all the telephone numbers of people you would call in an emergency.

Who is your out-of-state contact? What numbers do you think would

be important to have?

Parts of a Financial Binder

Personal Directory Professional Directory Document Locator Wills and Trusts Health Information Financial Section Personal Property Inventory

Parts of a Financial BinderContinued….

Social Security Benefit Statement Pension Benefits Widowhood Analysis Paycheck Stubs Loans Etc.

Next: Be Prepared for Disaster

Assemble an Evacuation

“To-Go” Box… or Financial

Information Binder

What is a “To Go” Box or Binder?

Portable file of Important papers Cash Phone numbers Photos Valuable information And more!!

“To Go” Box or Binder Contents

Cash Rolls of quarters

Emergency Phone Numbers and Email Addresses

Doctors, pharmacies Financial institutions Insurance companies

Local and national headquarters Credit card companies Clergy Repair contractors Family & friends

Copies of…

Homeowners, auto, flood, renter’s insurance policies AND policy numbers

Health, dental, and/or prescription insurance cards & numbers

Copies of…

Important prescriptions Medicines Eyeglasses

Children’s immunization records

Copies of…

Deeds Titles Wills &/ trust

documents Durable power of

attorney Healthcare directives

Copies of…

Stock and bond certificates Home inventory Birth, death, adoption and marriage

certificates Passports Employee benefit documents

Copies of…

First two pages of previous year’s federal and state income tax returns

Military service records

Most original documents should be kept in a safe deposit box or at another location

Include…..

Back-up of computerized financial records

Keys to safe deposit box Combination to safe Labeled photos of family members and

pets Negatives/disks of irreplaceable photos

Include ….

User names, passwords List of debt obligations with due dates,

contact information Photocopies, front and back, of all credit

cards

Don’t forget : List of Important Numbers

Social Security (keep original card here or in safe deposit box)

Bank account Loan Credit card Driver’s license Investment account

Create Digital Files

Scan your documents Store on flash drive

and CD If you use a flash drive,

always back up on CD NOTE: Computer files

are not 100% safe; always have a back-up

Assembling “To-Go” Box

Step 1 Place items in folders or

envelopes Place in sealed, waterproof

plastic Store in durable, sealed box

Fireproof & waterproof is recommended

Assembling “To-Go” BoxStep 2

Store box at home in SECURE location easy to access – under bed, in cabinet or closet near an outside door.

Assembling “To-Go” Box

Step 3 If you must evacuate grab

box and take it with you Keep box with you at all

times Do not leave box

unattended in your car

Update “To Go” Box

Review annually Update

Add or delete as needed

Replacing Valuable Documents

What if you lose everything? Resources for replacing documents

may be destroyed Most can be replaced Resource list compiled for Utah

Planning & Preparation

Can prevent the unexpected from becoming a harsh financial reality

Be Ready Now?

It is time to get ready for the Big Utah Shakeout on April 14, 2012. Help your

household be prepared.

Additional Preparedness tips…

72 hours kits—maintained and reviewed—grab your “to go”box and your kit together.

Car kits for travel emergencies.Carry-on kits for airplane travel

emergencies.

Airline Travel Carry-on Kit Cell phone charger/important numbers Emergency ID card Cash Moist towelettes/kleenex Food for backup Drinks—buy once you get through security Change of clothing/personal hygiene Mylar blanket Mark your luggage so it stands out

Sources of Information

American Red Cross FDIC—for financial document info EDEN—Extension Disaster Education

Network www.ready.gov from Homeland Security, or

1-800-Be Ready www.beprepared.com www.cdc.gov

Utah State University is an affirmative

action/equal opportunity institution.

Thank you!

For more information contact your local Utah State University

Extension Office.