How to Replace Lost Documents

Overview

For disaster survivors, having documents that prove who they are and what they own can be critical for issues such as aid applications, insurance claims, and housing disputes. Also critical during the recovery process are documents regarding insurance coverage, medical care, wills, child custody, access to Medicaid and other federal benefits, and more.

Prioritizing which documents to replace first will depend in part on a survivor’s needs and circumstances. Nonetheless, if the president declares a disaster for a particular area, the residents there generally must apply for federal aid within 60 days. That makes it very important to have the documentation the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) asks for as soon as possible.

The information FEMA asks applicants for includes:

• Identification
• Proof that they are a homeowner or tenant (lease, deed, etc.)
• Insurance information, if applicable
• Social Security numbers
• Annual household income
• Bank account information, for direct deposit of federal aid to a checking or savings account

Replacing Lost Documents

• If you are a disaster survivor, our resources will guide you through replacing lost documents, providing information on which government departments or agencies to contact. For state-specific contacts, however, you may need to check for information from FEMA (which often provides it after a disaster) or consult with your local legal aid office. Replacing some documents may require contacting private companies — for instance, contacting an insurance provider for a copy of your policy.
• If you are a legal aid provider, you can use our Replacing Lost Documents resources to find information on which federal departments and agencies to contact on behalf of your clients. For some of the documents listed in the table, such as marriage and driver’s licenses, you will need to fill in the name of the agency or department to contact in your state. Do this as soon as possible so you will be prepared if a disaster strikes. Consider distributing this resource to people in your community so they also will have the information at hand.

Saving Documents

The best way to avoid having to replace lost documents is to take steps to protect them in case of a disaster. This can include:

• Making copies and storing them in a watertight and fireproof container, preferably on a high shelf to protect them from rising floodwater.
• Scanning documents and storing them online, using a cloud service, so that they can be accessed from anywhere with your password.