Review your insurance policy to understand your coverage.

• Make sure to keep your policy information and agent’s information safe and accessible. 

Make a detailed list of your personal property.

• Take pictures of your belongings and household items. It is also a good idea to save receipts for higher-priced items

Take pictures of your home before the storm to be able to show the difference before and after the storm if you have damage.

We recommend putting together an evacuation folder.

Important documents to include are:

• Home ownership documents (deed, title, bill of sale, probate order, etc)

• Insurance records and your personal property inventory

• Birth certificates

• Social Security cards

• Identification documents

• Custody/Domestic Relations documents (marriage license, parenting plans, custody/visitation orders, guardianship orders)

• Wills or other Probate documents

• Medical records

You will want to consider your family members’ needs before evacuating.

• Are there medications, special foods, equipment, comfort objects, or other necessary items to pack?

• If you are heading to a shelter, verify that the evacuation shelter will meet their needs

• If you are the legal guardian, make sure to include the court papers in your evacuation folder

• FEMA has hurricane preparedness information for persons with disabilities and special needs here

If you have a court ordered custody order or parenting plan, communicate with the child’s other parent, and explain your evacuation plan.

Try to do this communication in writing, and keep a copy of the email or text messages confirming your plan and conversation.

Court orders have to be followed, even in disasters – if keeping your child safe conflicts with or prevents you from complying with the order temporarily, the court would likely understand but you should be prepared to show the efforts you took to comply and communicate.