Attachment 12 - Tips for Collecting Emergency Documents	

1.	Emergency Contact List

•	Ask a relative or friend who live outside your immediate area (approximately 100 miles away) to act as a clearinghouse for information about you and your family after a quake. It is often easier to place an out-of-state long distance call from a disaster area, than to call within the area. All family members should know to call the contact person to report their location and condition. Once contact is made, have the contact person relay messages to your other friends and relatives outside the disaster area. This will help to reduce calling into and out of the affected area once the phones are working. (See attached worksheet.) 
•	List contact information for anyone who you may wish to call in the event of an emergency.  Assume that you do not have access to your computer or palm pilot.  Include contact information for health care practitioners for everyone in household, Schools, Employers, Day Care Centers, Pharmacies, Veterinarian.
2.	Emergency Documents 
Emergency Documents (important information typically needed after a disaster) should include:
•	Proof of ownership or lease of your residence. (This is important when applying for disaster assistance after the quake.)
•	Copy of Securities, deeds and loan numbers including company name, address and telephone numbers.
•	Copy of Will/living trust and letter of instructions.
•	Copy of Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).
•	Copy of Important business documents.
•	List of Social security numbers of family members.
•	Proof of ownership for Vehicle, boats, etc. make, identification and license numbers.
•	List of credit card and bank account numbers and customer service phone numbers.
•	List of Insurance policy numbers and agency contact info.
•	List style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers.
•	Photos or video of all valuables for documentation of insurance claim. (This inventory should be backed up on disk if it is on computer. Consider documenting your inventory by going through your areas with a video or camera and capture all your possessions on film.)
•	Emergency Health Information Card (See Attachment #7)

3.	Storage of Emergency Documents 
•	Emergency Documents should be kept in a tightly sealed freezer bag in emergency supply kits and safe deposit box (if you have one).  It can also be good to give a copy of selected records to your out of area contact, but remember that these documents contain valuable private information and should be kept in a secure place and shared with care.
•	The Emergency Contact List should be kept with the Emergency Documents and also in your wallet or purse.
•	Update Every Six Months (i.e. when you change the clocks).