Preparedness:
“Grab and Go
Boxes ”
Marilyn Albertson
Utah State University Extension
Family & Consumer Science Agent
Salt Lake County
Adapted From:
Teresa Hunsaker , B.S. FCS Agent, Weber County, USU Extension
Marilyn Albertson, MS, CFCS, FCS Agent, Salt Lake County USU
Extension
SuzAnne Jorgensen, MS, CFCS, FCS Agent, Garfield County USU
Extension
Julie Ingersoll, MS, CFCS, FCS Agent, Kane County USU
Extension
Susan Cosgrove, Area Family Resource Management Agent,
Mississippi State University Extension
 LSU Ag Center
 State of Mississippi
 University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
 Virginia Cooperative Extension
St. George, Utah
Are You Prepared for
Emergencies?

Natural Disasters
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Tornado
Earthquake
Flood
Fire
Chemical/Bio Hazard
Pandemic
Medical Emergency
Death of a Family
Member
St. Louis Missouri
Do You Have Your Financial Affairs
Organized in Case of Emergencies?
 Do
you have adequate insurance to cover
against risks?

Homeowners Insurance

Medical Insurance

Life Insurance

Auto Insurance
Is Your Household
Prepared…Insurance cont.

Do you know what kind of homeowners insurance
coverage you have and how extensive it would be if
there be a flood, earthquake, theft, or other natural
disaster?

How much medical insurance do you have and would it
cover a severe illness, disability or hospitalization?

Do you have a life insurance policy adequate to cover
needs of your family if you or your spouse were to die?
If single, do you have adequate insurance to cover your
bills and other expenses?
Take a Look at Your Record Keeping

Do you have important documents stored
safely?

Do you know how long to store different types
of records?

Do you have files set up for
 Family Records
 Property Records
 Financial Records
 Legal Records
Your Record Keeping…………….
 Do
you have a current
household inventory?
 Do
you have a financial notebook
prepared for an emergency?
Have a Plan…
 Prepare
a financial records inventory
 Prepare financial records for safekeeping
Inventory your Vital
Records and Treasures
 Prepare
photocopies of valuable
papers
 Organize financial papers
 Create a plan of articles to save
 Cash
Start Your
Financial Information
Binder
What for?
 Your Financial Information Binder is a
quick reference to your entire financial
situation.
 It helps manage your financial affairs
 It will be ready to help the person who will
manage your affairs for you in the event
that you are unable to do so.
Update Yearly
 Maintenance?


Update annually
Whenever a significant change occurs:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
birth
death
marriage
divorce
relocation
purchase
sale of assets
Activity…
 On
a piece of scratch paper or note paper,
please write down all the telephone
numbers of people you would call in an
emergency.
 Who is your out-of-state contact?
 What numbers do you think would
be important to have?
Parts of a Financial Binder
 Personal
Directory
 Professional Directory
 Document Locator
 Wills and Trusts
 Health Information
 Financial Section
 Personal Property Inventory
Parts of a Financial Binder
Continued….
 Social
Security Benefit Statement
 Pension Benefits
 Widowhood Analysis
 Paycheck Stubs
 Loans
 Etc.
Next: Be Prepared for Disaster
Assemble an
Evacuation
“To-Go” Box… or
Financial
Information Binder
What is a “To Go” Box or Binder?
 Portable

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file of
Important papers
Cash
Phone numbers
Photos
Valuable information
And more!!
“To Go” Box or Binder Contents
 Cash
 Rolls
of quarters
Emergency Phone Numbers and
Email Addresses
 Doctors,
pharmacies
 Financial institutions
 Insurance companies

Local and national headquarters
 Credit
card companies
 Clergy
 Repair
contractors
 Family & friends
Copies of…
 Homeowners,
auto, flood, renter’s
insurance policies AND policy
numbers
 Health, dental, and/or prescription
insurance cards & numbers
Copies of…
 Important
prescriptions


Medicines
Eyeglasses
 Children’s
immunization records
Copies of…
 Deeds
 Titles
 Wills
&/ trust
documents
 Durable power of
attorney
 Healthcare directives
Copies of…
 Stock
and bond certificates
 Home inventory
 Birth, death, adoption and marriage
certificates
 Passports
 Employee benefit documents
Copies of…
 First
two pages of
previous year’s
federal and state
income tax returns
 Military service
records
 Most
original
documents
should be kept in
a safe deposit
box or at another
location
Include…..
 Back-up
of computerized financial
records
 Keys to safe deposit box
 Combination to safe
 Labeled photos of family members and
pets
 Negatives/disks of irreplaceable photos
Include ….
 User
names, passwords
 List of debt obligations with due dates,
contact information
 Photocopies, front and back, of all credit
cards
Don’t forget :
List of Important Numbers
 Social
Security (keep original card here
or in safe deposit box)
 Bank account
 Loan
 Credit card
 Driver’s license
 Investment account
Create Digital Files
 Scan
your documents
 Store on flash drive
and CD


If you use a flash drive,
always back up on CD
NOTE: Computer files
are not 100% safe;
always have a back-up
Assembling “To-Go” Box
Step 1

Place items in folders or
envelopes
 Place in sealed, waterproof
plastic
 Store in durable, sealed box

Fireproof & waterproof is
recommended
Assembling “To-Go” Box
Step 2
Store box at home in SECURE
location easy to access – under
bed, in cabinet or closet near an
outside door.
Assembling “To-Go” Box
Step 3
 If
you must evacuate grab
box and take it with you


Keep box with you at all
times
Do not leave box
unattended in your car
Update “To Go” Box
 Review
annually
 Update

Add or delete as
needed
Replacing Valuable Documents
 What
if you lose everything?
 Resources for replacing documents
may be destroyed
 Most can be replaced
 Resource list compiled for Utah
Planning & Preparation
Can prevent the unexpected from
becoming a harsh financial reality
Be Ready Now?
 It
is time to get ready for the Big Utah
Shakeout on April 14, 2012. Help your
household be prepared.
Additional Preparedness tips…
 72
hours kits—maintained and
reviewed—grab your “to go”box
and your kit together.
 Car kits for travel emergencies.
 Carry-on kits for airplane travel
emergencies.
Airline Travel Carry-on Kit
 Cell
phone charger/important numbers
 Emergency ID card
 Cash
 Moist towelettes/kleenex
 Food for backup
 Drinks—buy once you get through security
 Change of clothing/personal hygiene
 Mylar blanket
 Mark your luggage so it stands out
Sources of Information
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American Red Cross
FDIC—for financial document info
EDEN—Extension Disaster Education
Network
www.ready.gov from Homeland Security, or
1-800-Be Ready
www.beprepared.com
www.cdc.gov
Thank you!
For more information contact your
local Utah State University
Extension Office.
Utah State University is an affirmative
action/equal opportunity institution.