The 6.3-magnitude earthquake in central Italy that has killed 130 people and left up to 50,000 more homeless can serve as reminder about emergency-preparedness plans. (The photograph, from the Abruzzo region, is from the Italian national police.)
Remember, seismic activity in the U.S. isn’t confined to just the West Coast and Alaska. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Earthquake Hazards Program offers maps of seismic activity (and its probability of occurring) for all 50 states. And this blog post provides some basic emergency-preparedness advice.
Use the information below to properly protect your crucial family documents. Store your papers in a water-resistant plastic bag or container. If you have a safe-deposit box, designate a friend or relative cosigner, so that if you are incapacitated, papers can be accessed. But don’t leave your will or funeral instructions inside; safe-deposit boxes are sealed upon the owner’s death.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter
| TYPE OF STORAGE | DOCUMENT(S) | KEEP A COPY? | WHERE TO STORE DUPLICATE? |
| SAFE-DEPOSIT BOX | Birth and death certificates; marriage license; adoption, citizenship, divorce papers | Yes | Home file |
| Inventory and photos of household property | Yes | Home file | |
| Deeds, titles, bills of sale, car title, mortgage | Yes | Home file | |
| List of location of important papers | Yes | Home file | |
| HOME FILE CABINET | Tax returns; supporting documents for past 3 to 7 years | No |
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| Passport | No |
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| Bank-account information | Yes | Friend's or relative's home or at your office | |
| Insurance policies | No |
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| List of all assets, including brokerage and mutual-fund accounts, stocks, bonds, bank accounts, real property, and employee-benefit accounts | Yes | Friend's or relative's home or at your office | |
| ATTORNEY'S OFFICE | Will, durable power of attorney | Yes | Home file and executor or personal representative |
| Funeral instructions | Yes | Friend or relative | |
| Living will, health-care power of attorney | Yes | Home file, physician, personal representative | |
| Location of safe-deposit box | Yes | Joint owner, friend, or relative | |
| WALLET | Driver's license or other photo I.D. | yes | Home file |
| Auto insurance card | Yes | In car | |
| Emergency contacts | No |
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| Blood type, list of allergies, medications | No |
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