Crisis-Ready Society
Foundations

Important documents and cash

Cards, ATMs and online banking can stop working in a crisis, and lost papers slow down insurance claims and aid. This page shows which documents to copy, where to keep them and how much cash to hold.

Foundation for every scenario

Prepare

  • Copy passports, birth and marriage certificates, licences, wills, deeds and insurance policies.[1]
  • Keep copies inside and outside the home, for example with a relative out of town.[1]
  • Keep originals of key papers in a safe place away from home, such as a deposit box.[2]
  • Put document copies in your kit in a waterproof container, or save them electronically.[3]
  • Take recent photos of each family member in case someone goes missing.[1]
  • Photograph or video your home and belongings for insurance claims.[2]
  • Review your insurance cover against all likely hazards.[2]
  • Keep some cash at home in small notes, in case cards and ATMs fail.[4]

Use and maintain

  • Take ID for every family member and your document copies if you evacuate.[1]
  • Keep your household plan with your passports and insurance papers so you can grab them fast.[5]
  • Use cash for essentials if digital payments stop working.[4]
  • Have more than one way to pay, such as cards from different banks or networks.[4]

Review and restock

  • Use your copies and home inventory to start insurance claims and aid applications.[2]
  • Top up your cash reserve and update document copies.[4]
  • Use cash occasionally so you stay familiar with it.[4]
  • Consider building an emergency savings fund for any crisis.[2]

Watch

Short how-to videos for this topic are being added to our channel.
Watch Crisis-Ready Society on YouTube

Official sources

  1. Get Prepared (Public Safety Canada): Your Emergency Preparedness Guide
  2. Ready.gov (FEMA): Financial Preparedness
  3. Ready.gov (FEMA): Build A Kit
  4. Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF): Payments and cash in times of crisis
  5. UK Government (Prepare): Get prepared for emergencies

Steps are written in our own words from these pages. If advice from your local authority differs, follow your local authority.

Offline mode: showing saved pages