Use an Evacuation Box

Today's Assignment

Purchase an Evacuation Box and assemble it this week.

Buy a lockable, durable "evacuation box" to grab in the event of an emergency. Even a cardboard box would do. Put important papers into the box in sealed, waterproof plastic bags. Store the box in your home where you can get to it easily. Keep this box with you at all times, don't leave it in your unattended car.

The box should be large enough to carry:

A small amount of traveler's checks or cash and a few rolls of quarters.

Negatives for irreplaceable personal photographs, protected in plastic sleeves.

A list of emergency contacts that includes doctors, financial advisors, clergy, reputable repair contractors, and family members who live outside your area.

Copies of important prescriptions for medicines and eyeglasses, and copies of children's immunization records.

Health, dental, or prescription insurance cards or information.

Copies of your auto, flood, renter's, or homeowners insurance policies (or at least policy numbers) and a list of insurance company telephone numbers.

Copies of other important financial and family records (or at least a list of their locations). These would include deeds, titles, wills, a letter of instructions, birth and marriage certificates, passports, relevant employee benefits documents, the first two pages of the previous year's federal and state income tax returns, etc. Originals, other than wills, should be kept in a safe deposit box or at another location.

Backups of computerized financial records.

A list of bank account, loan, credit card, driver's license, investment account (brokerage and mutual funds), and Social Security numbers.

Safe deposit box key.