With wildfire season underway, Californians in potential fire zones should take the following documents as they rush out the door:
Fourteen documents to secure in the event of fire or other disaster (Copies or originals of many of these documents should be in a bank safe-deposit box or in a fireproof safe):
1. Birth certificates, marriage licenses, military discharge papers, death certificates, wills, trusts and other important life-event documents:
2. Property titles;
3. Social Security cards;
4. Passports;
5. Insurance records;
6. Credit card numbers and contacts;
7. Automobile pink slips;
8. Medical records, including prescription numbers;
9. Records of passwords and IDs for bank accounts and Web sites you frequently use;
10. Phone numbers and addresses for relatives, friends, physicians and other important contacts;
11. Federal and state income tax returns for the past three years;
12. Receipts for high-end purchases such as jewelry, fine art and high-tech equipment;
13. Bonds and stock certificates; and
14. Household inventory.
For additional information regarding how to financially prepare for a potential disaster, check with a certified public accountant who is a member of the California Society of CPAs (www.calcpa.org).