Emergency Planning Checklist

PHASE ONE: CREATE AND UPDATE YOUR ESTATE PLAN

  • Estate planning documents including:
    • Trust
    • Will, including guardian language if applicable
    • Financial Power of Attorney
    • Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will and Last Instructions (Cremation, Burial, etc.)
    • IRA, 401(k), Life Insurance and Annuity Beneficiary Designations
    • Asset Titling – Rights of Survivorship and “or”
    • Pay on Death Designations
    • Fund trusts appropriately – houses, business interests, investment accounts
  • Annually confirm location of original documents and other valuables
  • Review above documents every 3-5 years, update if needed

PHASE TWO: CREATE YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

  • Prepare and maintain a list of all accounts, usernames and passwords
  • Add two ICE contact entries in your phone with their contact information and relationship
  • Prepare a book of contact information
    • Include people that can care for your children, pets and other dependents, temporarily and permanently
    • Include people that can take over household and work responsibilities for you
    • Include contact information for service providers, such as attorneys, accountants, housekeepers, landscapers, pool maintenance, veterinarians, etc.
    • Identify the persons who can coordinate relief (1 in town, 1 out of town)
  • Prepare a centralized household calendar to allow someone to cancel, reschedule or plan for activities
  • Prepare and maintain list of allergies, medications and medical history
  • Test and maintain backup systems for personal computers, data, email and systems

PHASE THREE: CREATE YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN

  • Prepare personal financial statement, lists of assets, liabilities and insurance policies that include:
    • Asset description, title, value and beneficiary or survivorship designation, if any
    • Contacts for trusted advisers for special assets such as antiques or art
  • Streamline and organize bill payment. Arrange for online bill pay, and include the information on your list of accounts
  • Set aside a cash reserve, or liquid investments, in case of emergency

PHASE FOUR: COMMUNICATE PLANS, CAREFULLY

  • Keep communication open with friends, family and advisers – scaled appropriately under circumstances
    • Nominate a person or two to communicate for you during emergencies
    • Use social media resources (Facebook, CaringBridge, etc.) to communicate during an emergency

PHASE FIVE: GET HELP

  • Seek out advice from advisers, family and friends
  • Accept help when it is offered