Being Prepared Now will Save you Undue Stress Later
First, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends, and the incredible Start Here community who have endured weeks of unimaginable stress. The losses so many have faced are devastating, and it is hard to comprehend the widespread impact on so many communities that have recently experienced the recent fire storms. Sadly, what has happened in Southern California is no longer an isolated event. Extreme weather is becoming a new normal, leaving many of us feeling helpless. However, we can be proactive and be prepared - even though knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. Start Here can help! Below is a list of key items to back up and safeguard. Having secure, offsite copies of these essentials can protect your vital information and cherished memories during challenging times.
1. Personal and Family Documents
Birth certificates / Social Security cards
Marriage certificates
Driver’s licenses and state IDs / Passports and visas
Wills, powers of attorney, and living trusts
Property deeds, titles, and rental agreements
2. Financial Records
Bank account and credit card details
Tax returns (last 3–5 years)
Insurance policies (home, auto, health, life, etc.)
Loan and mortgage agreements, as well as retirement and investment account details (if applicable)
3. Emergency Contact Information
Family members and close friends - Identify an out of state contact. Often times long-distance lines are established before local lines are and are less jammed.
Medical & Insurance providers
4. Medical Information
Prescriptions and medications list, for people and pets
Medical records and vaccination history
Health insurance cards
5. Photos and Memories
Digital backups of family photos, heirlooms, and keepsakes
Videos and home movies
Journals, letters, and sentimental documents
6. Legal and Business Documents
Contracts and agreements
Business licenses
Tax forms and business account details
7. Household Information
Home inventory (photos/videos of belongings for insurance claims)
Consider an app like Artifcts
Utility account information (water, electricity, internet, etc.)
Repair and service provider contacts
8. Technology and Account Details
Password managers can be a useful tool to help you remember all of your accounts including logins, passwords, and various software licenses
9. Emergency Preparedness Plans
Evacuation routes and meeting points
Review your emergency kits and have a go-bag checklist (like this one)
Once you’ve made your copies, where you store them is crucial. While having backup copies in your home is helpful, offsite and secure storage has become more essential than ever. Consider using a combination of backup methods, such as physical copies, external hard drives (EHDs), USB drives, and, most importantly, cloud storage. When selecting your cloud storage, be mindful of your privacy. Start Here recommends cloud storage platforms like TimeMachine, Backblaze, and Dropbox.
Lastly, let’s talk about your photos! I strongly encourage you to consider digitizing your most treasured memories. This doesn’t mean you need to digitize everything—although, if resources allow, it’s not a bad idea. At a minimum, focus on making a concerted effort to digitize and back up your most cherished images.
This is a lot of information to take in. Consider tackling this work in stages. Start with the most critical items on the list and work your way down. If you feel overwhelmed, Start Here is available to help! I’m committed to assisting my community, near and far. Whether you want to talk through this process or figure out where to begin, my calendar is open to you—let’s get started together!
