LA Controller Debuts Website to Help People Save Documents When Evacuating

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - City Controller Ron Galperin today debuted an interactive website intended to help people protect important documents they may need in the event of a mandatory evacuation due to a wildfire or other disaster.

Galperin said the “How to Build a Financial First Aid Kit'' site provides a list of documents and items people should gather, store safely and be able to access if a crisis comes their way.

“If disaster strikes and you are forced to leave your home, you need access to food, water and medicine, but also to all of your critical financial and personal documents,'' Galperin said.

“Emergencies like wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to unexpected expenses that require moving money around, pulling from savings or relying on assistance to make ends meet,'' he said. “To be ready, I urge every Californian to create a financial first aid kit today.''

Galperin listed four categories of documents and items needed in a financial first aid kit:

-- identification documents, including driver's and marriage licenses, birth certificates, passports, immigration documents and pet IDs;

-- legal and financial documents, including bank account info and statements, estate planning documents, utility bills, vehicle registration and pay stubs;

-- medical information, including doctor contacts and insurance cards, disability and prescription documents; and

-- passwords, contacts and cash, including emergency contact information, usernames and security information.

The website, which also includes tips on how to store documents both physically and digitally and what tools and apps to use, can be accessed at lacontroller.org/financialfirstaidkit.

Photo: Getty Images


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