The stories of people losing their homes, property, and loved ones to natural disasters are filling news feeds. From the East to West Coast, the risks of dealing with a Hurricane, Flood, Wildfire, or other Natural Disaster are real. Along with your Emergency Kit (emergency kit suggestions can be found here), there are important steps that you can take to protect your family.
Legal Document preparedness includes making sure that all of your important documents are appropriately stored and easily accessible. You will want documents to be stored in a portable, water-proof container. Some documents can be scanned and stored in the cloud or off-site, however, if power is out or the internet is down you may need certain documents immediately. Keeping a printed copy of certain documents can be crucial if power is out or the internet is down in your area. These are documents that you will want in the event that you are delayed from returning to your home for weeks, months, or permanently.
The following are a list of legal documents that you should keep with you or have access to in the event of an Emergency:
*Identification (Driver’s or Non-driver’s license);
*Medical and Health Insurance Cards;
*Medical Records (vaccinations or specialty care records);
*Insurance Policies (property, medical, life);
*Birth Certificates;
*Adoption Papers;
*Marriage Certificates;
*Social Security Cards;
*Passports;
*Photographs of family and pets;
*Powers of Attorneys;
*Trusts;
*Last Wills & Testaments;
*Financial Account numbers;
*Recent paystub;
*Information on your Bills – account numbers, due dates and address to mail payment; and
*Naturalization papers.
For loved ones in Assisted Care, Nursing Homes, or Daycare, before an emergency arises, you should find out what emergency preparedness procedures the facility has established. Shelter in Place, refers to maintain care in the facility which may be necessary for elder adults who are at risk if moved. The facility should have a comprehensive plan that includes not only Shelter in Place plans, but Evacuation plans, and Communication plans. You can request a copy of the Plan, preferably in advance of such an emergency, and you will want to keep that copy with your other emergency documents in a water-proof container.
The communications plan should include many different ways of transmitting the information, so you will want to know how to expect communications and make sure you have the ability to receive those communications. The Communications may include email, text, internet updates, media outlets, and even updates through social media outlets.
The decision of whether or not to Shelter in Place or Evacuate is a complicated decision based on a variety of factors. These factors include things like whether or not the facility expects that it will be able to withstand the weather or other incident, how long the weather is expected to last, road conditions (including traffic), how mobile the patients are, and whether or not the patients can be safely transported. These decisions are made on a situational basis, and can be changed as the circumstances change.
When you must evacuate and you have a pet, they should have their own emergency kit . This kit should include most recent vaccination records, medical records, pet microchip number, pet medications, pet food (at least 3 days) and water just for your pet (at least 3 days), a printed list of pet-friendly hotels, animal hospitals and boarding facilities, don’t forget your collar/harness and leash, a crate for your pet, your pet’s bedding and a toy or two, trash bags for pet waste, litter and litter box. You also should take a picture of you with your pet in the event you are separated. When you are being actively emergency evacuated, you should be aware that they may require you to leave your pet behind. It is imperative that if you believe you could be in an evacuation area – even if there are not mandatory evacuations in effect – that you consider evacuation early if you would like to keep your pets or service animals with you. If you voluntarily evacuate, you can control the circumstances including having the ability to get somewhere safe where your pet is allowed. You will want pet food, containers for water and any medication that your pet takes.
There are a lot of resources available to discuss the steps you should take in order to prepare for a natural disaster. The most comprehensive set of resources can be found at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us.