What Documents Should I Keep With My Kit?

In an emergency, having the right documents on hand can be just as important as having food and water. Whether you're dealing with an insurance claim, a medical situation, or an unexpected evacuation, the last thing you want is to be searching for paperwork under pressure.

The essential documents to include:

Identification

  • Copies of passports and birth certificates for every family member
  • Driver's licenses or state IDs
  • Social Security cards or just the numbers written down securely

Medical

  • A list of current medications, dosages, and prescribing doctors
  • Health insurance cards and policy numbers
  • Immunization records, especially for children
  • Any critical medical history your emergency contacts or doctors would need

Financial

  • Bank account numbers and emergency contact numbers for your financial institutions
  • A list of credit card numbers and customer service contacts in case cards are lost
  • Copies of recent tax returns, helpful for disaster relief applications

Home and Property

  • Homeowner's or renter's insurance policy numbers and your agent's contact information
  • A copy of your lease or mortgage documents
  • Photos or video of your home's contents for insurance purposes. Store a copy digitally as well

Family and Contacts

  • An out-of-state emergency contact list. Don't rely on your phone alone
  • Copies of any custody agreements or legal documents relevant to your children
  • Pet vaccination records if you have animals

How to store them safely:

Use a waterproof, fireproof document bag or a sealed zip pouch inside your kit. Make a second set of digital copies and store them in a secure cloud folder or email them to yourself so they're accessible from anywhere.

One simple habit:

Review and update your documents every time you do your 6-month kit check. Policies change, medications change, and kids grow up fast.

Ready to build the kit that holds it all together?

At Gear Up Survival Kits our pre-packed emergency kits give you the organized, ready-to-go foundation your documents deserve. Add your paperwork, store it safely, and rest easy knowing your family is covered.

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Because being prepared means having everything in one place, including the paperwork.