Disaster Preparedness Starts Before the Emergency

Wildfires, floods, severe storms, and other emergencies can happen with little warning. While many people focus on protecting their homes and belongings, New Mexico Legal Aid reminds residents that protecting important documents is just as important.

New Mexico Legal Aid's Disaster Checklist provides a simple guide to gathering and storing essential records before a disaster occurs. The checklist includes personal identification documents, insurance policies, property records, medical information, financial documents, legal paperwork, and pet records. Having quick access to these items can make insurance claims, recovery assistance, temporary housing, and rebuilding efforts much easier.

Click the image below to download the checklist.

Brokers can share this resource with clients as part of their homeownership and disaster preparedness conversations. A few minutes spent organizing documents today can help reduce stress and delays when unexpected events occur.

New Mexico Legal Aid recommends storing documents in multiple secure locations, including digital copies on a USB drive, a safety deposit box, or a fireproof and waterproof storage container. When possible, keep both digital and physical copies, and use password protection for sensitive electronic files.

Preparedness is not just about protecting property. It is about protecting the records that help people recover and move forward when disaster strikes.

About New Mexico Legal Aid

New Mexico Legal Aid is a nonprofit organization that provides free civil legal assistance to eligible New Mexicans. Its Disaster Legal Services program helps individuals and families address legal issues that can arise after a disaster, including replacing lost documents, resolving insurance disputes, addressing housing concerns, and accessing recovery resources. Through educational materials and community outreach, New Mexico Legal Aid works to help residents prepare for emergencies and recover more effectively when disasters occur.