In the aftermath of katrina and now rita, what should all the people who have lost eveything have taken with them in regards to "important documents". I would like to put together a grab and go kit/folder that contains these items in case i need to evacuate. I just don't understand how these people with literally just the shirt on their backs can reestablish identity, accounts, recieve funds, etc. Seems like a perfect environment for identity theft/fraud. Is there a website already out with a list like i am looking for? thanks.

Todd,

Here are my thoughts...

First, create a Mini-BOB (this should please those folks that have all their other kits done and are looking for a new challenge).

To keep things light, I think my Mini-BOB would look like:

-Passport- Accepted world-wide as ID. You can also keep an expired a drivers license as back up ID (it has a pic and is better than a doc without pics).

-I may include photocopies of Birth certificates.

-A single sheet of paper with all my important account numbers/passwords. Include financial account phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and web sites so re-establishing contact is possible. I do this in MS Word and save to a CD so there is no record of this info in my PC to be stolen/hacked.

I would consider printing this account list and birth certificates on National Geographic waterproof map paper.

-In my wallet, I print up 2 sided business cards with all my important phone numbers and e-mail contacts. I list several phone card numbers for communications. I list my personal e-mail addresses and passwords (separated for confusion purposes) so I can get e-mails from any web functioning PC. It contains birthdates and social security numbers for all family members. This info is scrambled and made to look like bank account numbers. It would be unintelligible to others. Be selective on what info you put on this card for security purposes and to keep the font large enough to read on this small card. I cover this card in poor-mans laminate (Rubbermaid clear shelf liner). I would put a spare copy of this in my Mini-BOB.

-A Single DVD/CD with scans of important documents, as well as back-ups of my e-mail/address book, and any other crucial Word docs.

-I maintain a little used credit card account (with a high limit) as a back up for my primary card. This goes the Mini-BOB in the event that my primary card becomes unusable or lost. A spare ATM card is probably a good idea too.

-Cash is always king. Put in a $20, (2) $10, (2) $5, (10) $1 bills then forget about it. Don't touch it except in a crisis (that does not mean a good deal on a Sebenza) <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

-Keep the whole lot in a waterproof wallet bag.

The waterproof bag would be in the Mini-BOB that is easily accessible and can be carried even if injured. A shoulder strap is crucial to allow hands free movement. This Mini-BOB would contain a roll of quarters for phone/vending machine use. Toss in a permanent medium tip marker to write social sec # on concealed spot on all family members if separation is imminent.

The mini-BOB can always be kept nearby (less likely with a big backpack or duffle). Mini-BOB first, Maxi-BOB if you have the time and health.

Another thought to consider is keeping crucial info safe in a looter/shelter environment: I would get one of the around-the-neck document holders used by world travelers. In this I would keep the $ bills, passport, Birth certificate, paper copy of all account numbers, and the info business card. Each family member can carry one of these with personal ID, contact numbers, and some cash (in case they get separated from you).

This setup is minimal, yet goes a long way to helping you get functioning again in a crisis.

Good luck, TR

Good, clear thinking here -- Just enought stuff to get you re established, plus some good thoughts on security. I'm going to do this myself.

TRO

I would second Pizzaman on this - especially the PASSPORT - it is, indeed, the gold standard of identification.

I would, however, have more of that important survival item - MONEY.

Nice list, pizzaman.

A passport is definitely important, but I think a driver's license is also a must-have and not an option in your BOB. Perhaps a passport is sufficient for identifying who you are and for fleeing the country, but a license is handy in a couple other situations I can think of.

* Many times, travel back into a disaster area is restricted to residents, and a passport alone will not prove you live in a certain neighborhood. Or how is that National Guardsman with his M-16 pointed at you going to know that you're not a looter (in your own house, even) just by looking at your passport?

* If you need to rent a car, you'll need a license.

* Although a passport is the gold standard in identification, I would say that the driver's license is the de facto standard identification (in the US), from the post office to the check cashing store to the bank. People are just most comfortable with the DL. I remember trying to open a checking account with just a passport one time because I lived in NYC and only had my old California license, and the bank employee looked at it strangely for a moment and also asked if I had a license. I got the account anyway, but it would've been a completely smooth transaction with a DL. Last thing you need after a disaster is more little headaches.

Just my 2 cents worth. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I just thought of another potential snafu. Most large banks use very sophisticated software to try and spot fraud and a sudden number of charges on an unused/sparsely used card could potentially be rejected until the account holder is contacted for confirmation. I've been called before--after--a large purchase, so it's a possibility to consider.

Either use your cell number as your home number, or you might be proactive and give the CC company a heads up to say that you plan to make a number of purchases on the card. Actually, that's a good idea if you're travelling abroad, too. I had a friend whose charges in Eastern Europe were blocked when he travelled there.

It doesn't even have to be sparsely used. Nor do the purchases have to be very big. At least not with my bank. My wife occassionally does gas samples for a testing firm. Fills up little one liter bottles with the three grades of gasoline and then ships them off. The firm requires seperate charge receipts for each liter bottle. She fills up three of those, at a little under a dollar per charge transaction (at least that's what it USED to cost!) and her fourth gasoline transaction for that same day is denied by the bank. She has been successful in calling the bank and having the daily restriction lifted on a per incident basis, but usually she just uses cash with seperate receipts after the CC starts denying.

I also had a $15 transaction denied to Russia. Perfectly legit, but the bank's software noted that I had never made an overseas transaction before and therefore denied me as a precaution (per the banks explanation when I called).

I guess all this fraud prevention is a good thing during normal times. But you've got a good point here - during times of crisis when you might be buying more than normal amounts of abnormal stuff in remote locations ... you might run into problems. Maybe you could call the CC company BEFORE making these charges and explain you circumstances.

Most people carry their DL in their wallet. I don't recommend evac'ing without your wallet.

In my state the DMV takes your thumbprint and that (plus your pic) should be enough to re-establish identity if you lose your DL. I dunno if all states do this.

Other docs, I'd say scan them into a computer and put a CD-ROM copy in your safe deposit box. If you really want to have a copy on your person, use a USB thumb drive (some of these are very thin and can fit in your wallet's coin pouch--you can even use a mini-SD card which is fingernail sized). Encrypt the files if you're paranoid.

Renew your passport soon. They're going to start putting RFID in them, which can be read from a distance, and their "privacy" fix will be to advise wrapping the passport in foil (there will be foil lined passport pouches). Foil will stop the RFID from broadcasting your passport number to identity thieves, but of course it will be visible on metal detectors. So if you have your passport, cash, and other important papers in a "hidden" neck pouch and then get wanded or go through a detector arch at an evac shelter, ding ding ding, your "privacy enhancing" foil wrapper has just revealed where your neck pouch is. It's better to renew now and get a passport with no RFID before the damn morons put RFID in all of them.

Unfortunately, could be tough getting through on the telephone during certain emergency situations (or, depending on your bank, even under NORMAL circumstance! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ). If your own house burned down, you could call your CC before purchasing a new wardrobe, but if your whole home town went up in flames after an earthquake...

By the way, the story about your wife's experience with her CC sounds like a pain, although, like you said, it's probably better for the company to block the charges than not.

Actually, I have one of those "check cards"--an ATM card with a Visa or Mastercard logo. When making a purchase, I can either make a PIN-based transaction, or process it like a credit card and sign for it. In any case, both transactions immediately deduct money from your bank account. I never liked the idea that if someone got a hold of my check card, they could take money straight out of my bank account by simply signing for it. I know, there are laws to limit your liability to $50, but unlike a regular CC, when that check card transaction goes through, the money is GONE--and you have to jump through hoops to get it back. At least with a CC, you can contest the charge and not have to fork over the money until the matter is resolved.

My bank, and most, I assume, can issue you an ATM-only card without the Visa-capability. If that is lost or stolen, at least the thief will require my PIN to do anything with it. Just need to get off my butt and request it, though.

Of course not, but in the context of your BOB, or as pizzaman called it in the parent post, a Mini-BOB, would be the first, and perhaps ONLY, thing he'd grab in a sudden evac. Your wallet could still be sitting on the dresser.

Yes, many states could verify your identity at the DMV with just your print and checking the photo, but unless there's some special disaster-issuing capability that I'm not aware of, the replacement license would still take weeks to arrive in the mail (And mailed to where? The shelter you're staying at? Fun.)

I still think getting a duplicate license before disaster strikes and keeping it in your BOB (or Mini-BOB in particular) would be a good idea. Your "old" license may not be technically valid anymore and may get confiscated by the bouncers at your favorite danceclub when they run it through their ID-checking machine (again, fun. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ), but for things like proving who you are, where you live, renting a car, etc. after a disaster, it would be fine and could really come in handy.

Keeping a state issued ID in your BOB would be an alternative, although you couldn't rent a car with it.