Why is Copies of Important Documents important for emergency preparedness?

Insurance claims require proof of policy and identity

How should I store Copies of Important Documents in my emergency kit?

Include: ID, passport, insurance, deeds, marriage/birth certificates, medical records

Which organizations recommend Copies of Important Documents?

Copies of Important Documents is recommended by CDC, Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany, Sweden as part of a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan.

How much does Copies of Important Documents cost?

Copies of Important Documents typically costs between $5-50 depending on quality and quantity. It's a cost-effective investment in emergency preparedness.

Copies of Important Documents

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Why this item matters

Recommended by

CDC, American Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany, Sweden

Key reasons

Insurance claims require proof of policy and identity
FEMA and Red Cross assistance requires identity verification
Bank and credit cards may need replacement using account numbers
Medical records inform shelter clinic staff about ongoing conditions

Where to buy

Search for Copies of Important Documents on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

About this item

Copies of Important Documents in your emergency kit

Disasters frequently destroy originals. Copies of insurance policies, IDs, deeds, medical records, and account information let you prove identity, file claims, and access accounts when the originals are unrecoverable. Copies of Important Documents appears on the recommended-supplies lists published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Red Cross, USA.gov, Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection, Sweden's Civil Contingencies Agency. It is rated High urgency in our checklist, meaning households in high-risk regions should treat it as a baseline item rather than a "nice to have".

Why you need it

Insurance claims require proof of policy and identity
FEMA and Red Cross assistance requires identity verification
Bank and credit cards may need replacement using account numbers
Medical records inform shelter clinic staff about ongoing conditions
Property deeds and titles speed up rebuilding paperwork

Storage and rotation tips

Include: ID, passport, insurance, deeds, marriage/birth certificates, medical records
Store paper copies in a waterproof zip pouch inside the kit
Also keep encrypted digital copies on a USB drive and in the cloud
Refresh annually — insurance policies and IDs expire
Keep one copy at an out-of-state relative's home as off-site backup

How it fits the 72-hour baseline

The EmergencyKit.app checklist follows CDC and American Red Cross guidance to cover the first 72 hours after a major disaster, the period during which public services such as power, water, and emergency response are most likely to be disrupted. Copies of Important Documents sits in the Important documents category and should be packed in your stay-at-home kit at minimum, with a smaller portable version in your evacuation go-bag. Review your stock at least once a year, and replace anything past its use-by date.

About the EmergencyKit.app checklist

How we built it

EmergencyKit.app combines the official emergency-kit recommendations published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Red Cross, USA.gov's Ready.gov campaign, and the German Federal Office of Civil Protection (BBK) and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). Each item on the checklist is tagged with the organisations that recommend it so you can see at a glance how well-supported it is.

The 20% body-weight rule

A go-bag should weigh no more than roughly 20% of the carrier's body weight. Above that threshold, evacuating on foot becomes painful, slow, and risky for older or smaller adults and for children. The weight checker on the homepage estimates your kit's total weight from the items you select and warns you when you cross the limit, so you can swap heavier items for lighter alternatives before you actually need to leave.

Three days, then more

The baseline kit covers a 72-hour window because that is how long it typically takes public services to restore basic supplies after a major disaster. Households in high-risk regions for hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes should plan for at least two weeks of food, water, and prescription medication on top of the baseline kit.