What would you take in an emergency?

What would you take if you had to evacuate your home in an emergency? Family photos, cash, and birth certificates are often the first things people think to grab. But would you know where important documents and other keepsakes were if you only had a few minutes to get out?

The recent tornadoes, earthquakes and other natural disasters are reminders that none of us know when a tragedy might occur. You may have watched media coverage of the aftermath of some of these disasters and felt extreme sorrow and even anger for all the people who have suddenly been uprooted from their homes.

It's awful seeing whole communities of people wandering around huge piles of rubble that used to be homes and businesses, searching for anything they can salvage to begin rebuilding their lives.

Set aside some time to pull together the documents and other items you would want to take in an emergency. Invest in a lock box or safe that is fire proof and water proof. Use it to store birth and marriage certificates, social security cards, important contracts, and other information you would need to handle personal and financial affairs even if your home were destroyed. If you have a safe deposit box at a bank, make sure you could quickly grab the key if you had to leave in a hurry.

Other items you might want to take in an evacuation include medications, eyeglasses, cash, check books, credit cards, and a phone book with important contacts. Only you know which of your personal items hold the most importance, so make a list of the things you would be devastated to lose if your home were destroyed.