It is important to have printed copies of documents for identification and reference during an emergency and to help in post-emergency recovery. Store your original important documents in a waterproof and fire proof safe to protect from house fire, flood, water leak, or putting out a house fire. In addition to safeguarding the originals, you should have copies of those documents in your disaster supply kit. Only store COPIES of important documents in your emergency kit—NOT the originals.

These important document copies can be reduced in size to fit in a small, 4x6 inch photo album that easily fits in your Disaster Supply Kit. They can also be included digitally on an encrypted flash drive that includes any additional important documentation and pictures that you don’t need printed. Store all of your documents and flash drives in waterproof bags. Double bagging is a good option for added protection.

Whether you keep them as printed copies or digital copies is your decision, but here are some recommendations for printed copies:

Household or Family Emergency Plan

A printed copy of your emergency plan is important to include in everyone's disaster supply kits so that it can be easily referenced if some details are forgotten. It is important to make a plan as a family and to have that plan written down. Include sheltering at home plans and evacuation plans. You'll want to include addresses of family emergency meeting places for reunification as well as emergency contact information for communicating with family members, work, schools, and emergency responders. Include copies of local maps showing multiple evacuation routes, family meeting locations, and other important places.

Have a printed checklist of kit items, unique to each person's needs and abilities, stored inside each disaster supply kit.

Include a printed prioritized evacuation grab list attached to the outside of your kit or at least near where your kits are stored for quick access and reference.