Individual, family, and community recovery from a disaster is often expensive and can take months or even years. Fortunately, planning in advance for recovery can help better to cope with these challenges and get back to normal faster.

1. PHOTOGRAPHS AND ART
Scan and backup precious photos and
digital downloads. Make sure music,
poetry, and art are saved digitally and
stored in a safe.
INSURANCE
Review your coverage and limitations
regularly. Remember that flood and
earthquake coverage may be an
additional expense.
PROOF OF OWNERSHIP
Have a photo ID with your address and
copies of your deed or rental agreement.
If you own a business, you will need this
same proof of ownership to gain access
to the property.
STOW AWAY CASH
Keep a small amount of cash or traveler’s
checks at home in a safe place where
you can access them quickly.
WORK/SCHOOL
Be familiar with telework or tele-school
options and policies. Know how to access
the tools needed to stay connected in case
of delays or closings.
PREPARE A RE-ENTRY KIT
Maintain supplies to collect wet/damaged/
burned materials from your home,
including flashlight, boots, gloves, ID tags,
garbage bags, plastic bins, and camera (to
take pictures of damaged materials).
PET CARE
If you’re a pet owner, list hotels, motels,
and boarding kennels that accept pets.
Keep copies of the pet’s vaccinations and
health records (along with any special
medications) in a disaster kit.
RE-ENTRY PLAN
Following a disaster, officials may
only let you into your house for a short
period of time. So plan ahead for what
you most want to recover from your
personal collections.
ON-GOING PAYMENTS
Be prepared to be able to continue to
pay bills (e.g., mortgage, rent, credit
cards). Make sure you can access
your user IDs and passwords for
all your accounts.
LONG-TERM HOUSING/RELOCATION
Identify family or friends that you could
stay with for longer than a few days. Identify
a local hotel or other housing option ahead
of time that can bridge the gap between
emergency shelter and long-term housing
solutions in case your home cannot
be re-inhabited.
Individual, family, and community recovery
from a disaster is often expensive and can
take months or even years. It consumes a
tremendous amount of personal energy
and takes precious time away from work,
school, and family care. As such, it can be a
chaotic and emotionally taxing process for
all who are affected. Fortunately, planning in
advance for recovery can help an individual,
family, and community better cope with
these challenges and get back to normal
faster. Below are a few “recovery in advance”
tips to do before a disaster strikes.
DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING
12 Tips for Individuals, Families and Communities
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INVENTORY HOME POSSESSIONS
For insurance purposes, take photos/videos and
make a record of your personal property—both
your house and your personal belongings.
DOCUMENT PROTECTION
Keep hard copies of your most important documents in a fire and water-proof portable safe. Scan and keep electronic files on a USB
drive (in a safe) or a cloud program. Documents that should be protected include: personal identification, property and financial
documents, medical records, mortgage statements, property tax statements, tax returns, and homeowners insurance.