Getting Documents After Disasters
Many people affected by Hurricane Katrina have been left without important documents.
So, in The Early Show series "Rebuilding Your Life," financial adviser Ray Martin offers advice on how hurricane victims can replace those important papers, and the ones to seek first.
His suggestions apply to everyone, too, not just Katrina's victims.
Martin says there are some documents you should have ready to "grab and go" at a moment's notice. Others, you can get again later. And Martin has tips on keeping documents safe.
The first thing Katrina's displaced need, Martin says, is photo identification. Obtaining a driver's license is probably the easiest and quickest solution.
Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles says it's "working diligently to expedite procedures and processing for issuance of replacement driver's licenses and ID cards at no cost" to motorists.
If you're still in Louisiana, visit any motor vehicle office. Assuming you already had a license, your identity can be verified through the office's computerized photo and signature files. Call 225-925-4610 or 225-925-3993.
If you're outside Louisiana, you need to fill out an application. Your signature on the application will act as your proof of identification. Again, it will be matched to your records on file. Once you e-mail or fax the application, you should receive your license within 72 hours. For details, log onto expresslane.org or call 225-924-4195 or 1-877-368-5463.
Mississippi has no expedited procedure for obtaining a new driver's license. Instructions for getting a replacement license can be found by clicking here.
Also, hurricane survivors who have landed in other states are receiving some help in this area:
The next thing you need to do is get proof of your (perhaps former) address. This is important, because it's further proof that you are who you say you are, and will help you when you need to cash a check or deal with banks on other financial matters.
The easiest way to do this is to call your utility company, cable company, phone company or even cell phone company and ask them to fax you a copy of your last bill. If you had online accounts with any of these companies, look into printing out a bill from their Web sites. These bills will always contain your address, and are considered valid proof of address in most instances. Auto and boat registrations will also contain proof of address.
A third document that should be toward the top of your list to replace is your marriage license, Martin says. The license is proof that you and your spouse are entitled to spousal benefits, such as health benefits, Social Security benefits and hospital visiting rights. You probably won't run into many problems if you don't have this, but you should go ahead and order one just in case.
Many people seem concerned about Social Security cards, Martin observes. You don't need a card to claim your Social Security checks. There is no expedited procedure for getting a new card yet. To complete the application for a new card, you'll need a driver's license.
You really don't need to worry about getting new copies of your insurance policies, 401(K) statements or other financial records immediately, Martin says. You should contact all of these companies to inform them of your situation. Beyond that, you can obtain copies of policies and archived statements at a later date. If you need to conduct business immediately with any of these financial institutions, you can prove your identity over the phone through a series of questions with no paperwork required.
Wills also fall into the "worry about it later" category, according to Martin.
In an ideal world, he says, everyone should have their financial information collected in a safe place, or even ready to travel at a moment's notice. There's been a flood of articles since the storm about "emergency financial kits." No question that you should include certain documents with your water, food and other survival kit items. Among those documents are your driver's license, passport, birth certificate, Social Security card, marriage certificate and ID cards for your children. Local police often offer those cards for free. Even if you don't get a card, include photos of your kids in your emergency kit. If you wind up separated from your kids during a disaster, as happened to so many in Louisiana, having a recent photo can be a huge help in re-connecting.
Address verification documents include utility, cable TV and phone bills, auto registrations, mortgage account statements, bank account statements and 401(k)/brokerage statements.
Among documents showing ownership are deeds to properties, vehicle/boat/trailer titles, bills of sale for big-ticket items, and photos of the contents of your home. These will all help when it comes time to deal with your insurance company.
Martin suggests keeping all important documents in your home. If you're in a flood or hurricane zone, place documents in waterproof bags. If fire is your home's biggest threat, place documents in a fireproof box. As for Martin himself, he's considering placing his financial emergency kit in a backpack, so he can literally "grab and go" and still have hands left over for your kids.
Many sources suggest mailing some or all important papers to a relative who lives in another part of town or a different city. Martin says he would never do this because it puts a big burden on that person.
Many experts also suggest getting a safe deposit box. Not a bad option, Martin says, but again, not something that he would do. As we've seen in Katrina, you can't always access these boxes in a disaster. Plus, a lot of folks probably don't want to pay for one.