The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, is an important and demanding period for Puerto Ricans and for visitors to the Island during these months.
During this time, the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms is high, along with the need to be ready for emergencies, possible evacuations, medical visits and the risk of family members getting separated.
At Platea, we know that beyond preparing your emergency bag, setting up your home with a generator, or putting together a family plan, it is essential to have the necessary documents ready, not just yours but your whole family's. Here is the complete list of documents you should keep on hand in case of an emergency.
Complete list of documents to keep in case of an emergency
1. Personal identification: Among all the necessary documents, the most important one, for you and every member of your family, is your ID and those of your relatives. We recommend scanning them or having them laminated to protect against moisture.
2. Driver's license: This document not only lets you drive but also serves as additional identification. Keep a copy in your emergency kit.
3. Passport: While it may not seem essential in a local emergency, losing it in a domestic disaster could create complications.
4. Deeds and rental contracts: It may seem like a lot, but as part of preparing for an emergency such as hurricane season, families should have their property deeds and rental contracts stored and accessible. This document is essential for the next item on the list to be of any use.
5. Insurance policies: Make sure you have a copy of your insurance policy, which should include your insurer's contact information and coverage details, whatever the type: homeowner's insurance, auto insurance, catastrophe insurance, health insurance and even life insurance.
6. Wills: If you have the chance to keep copies of your documents, we recommend storing any wills that could help resolve a legal matter in the future.
7. Medical history: It is important to have each family member's medical history available, showing their health status, illness records, medication lists, allergies and medical identification. Make sure to record your blood type, age, pre-existing conditions and medication allergies.
8. Emergency contacts: Keep on hand the information for local hospitals and clinics, your health insurance, your veterinary clinic, family members in other cities and emergency phone numbers.
9. Birth and marriage certificates: Keep copies of these essential documents so you can carry out any legal or administrative procedures.
10. Banking documents: Write down your account numbers and bank contact details, your credit card numbers and active accounts, and also file your investment documents.
How to store these documents
We encourage you to scan these documents and store them in a cloud service or on a reliable digital device. In case you lose power or internet access, we also recommend keeping physical copies in waterproof bags that prevent moisture from getting in. Store these documents in your emergency kit and update them periodically so they are not a problem when an emergency arises.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
