Marylanders are no strangers to severe weather. However, emergencies can unfold with little warning – from coastal flooding to winter storms, outages, and fires.
While most disaster preparedness plans focus on food, water, and emergency supplies, protecting your important legal and financial documents is equally important. As a result, having quick access to critical records eases recovery for you and your family.
Which Documents Should You Protect?
Consider safeguarding the following:
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other identification documents
- Financial records, account information, and tax documents
- Property deeds, vehicle titles, and insurance policies
- Estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives
- Medical records, insurance cards, and medication lists
- Important contact information
- Family keepsakes and irreplaceable records
The goal isn’t just to keep these documents safe. It’s to ensure they are accessible when you need them most.
Five Steps Maryland Families Can Take Today
- Create Digital Backups
Scan important records and store them in a secure, password-protected cloud storage system or encrypted digital drive.
- Protect Original Documents
Store original documents in a fireproof and waterproof safe. You may also want to keep backup copies in a safe deposit box or another secure location.
- Build a Document Go-Bag
In the event of an evacuation, having a portable file with essential records can save valuable time. Include identification documents, insurance information, estate planning documents, financial account details, and medical records.
- Create a Home Inventory
Take photos or videos of your home’s contents and save them with your digital records. This documentation can be extremely helpful when filing insurance claims after a storm, flood, or fire.
- Make Sure Trusted Individuals Have Access
An estate plan is only effective if the right people can find it. Make sure trusted family members, fiduciaries, or agents under your power of attorney know where important documents are stored and how to access them.
After a Disaster: Focus on Recovery
If important records are damaged or lost:
- Replace identification, insurance, and property documents as quickly as possible.
- Contact attorneys, financial institutions, accountants, and insurance providers that may have copies on file.
- Apply for any available state or federal disaster assistance.
- Review your preparedness plan and identify any areas that need improvement.
A Strong Recovery Starts with Preparation
Whether it’s flooding in Ellicott City, a hurricane impacting the Eastern Shore, or a winter storm in Baltimore County, disasters can expose weaknesses in even the best plans.
By organizing and protecting your legal, financial, and estate planning documents now, you can make it easier for yourself and your loved ones to navigate the challenges that follow an emergency.
If you’d like help reviewing your wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other estate planning documents, an experienced Maryland estate planning attorney can help ensure your plans are secure and ready when you need them most.
