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