With very little time to collect a lifetime of memories and important papers, residents forced to evacuate due to the flooding in the Midwest have mere seconds to select what they will take and what will be left behind.

Where possible, move as many items to the highest level of the home as possible or place them in plastic containers to offer some measure of protection against flood waters. Unplug appliances, wrap them in plastic sheeting or bags, and move them to higher areas. Turn off the water, electricity and gas to prevent secondary damage from explosions or broken pipes.

Make sure all doors and windows are locked before leaving. Whether individuals are moving to a shelter or staying with friends and family, there are a number of items they should make sure to take with them when leaving home.

Here is a checklist of items to take:

insurance papers

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Important papers

  • Insurance policies — property, auto, flood, personal articles, health insurance, etc.
  • Passports, birth certificates, divorce papers.
  • Property deeds.
  • Recent tax returns.
  • Prescriptions.
  • Social security cards.
  • List of important contacts/address book.
  • Checkbooks.
  • Cash.
  • Credit cards.
  • Family photos.
  • Historical papers.
  • Photos of house and interiors of each room.
  • Inventory printouts.

emergency supplies

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Essential supplies

  • Bottled water — three-day supply (a gallon per day per person).
  • Non-perishable food — three-day supply per person, e.g., protein bars, cereal bars, dried fruit, hard candy,
  • Pet food and supplies for pets.
  • Prescription medications.
  • Flashlights & batteries.
  • First-aid supplies — aspirin, Band-Aids, bandages & tape, burn ointment, eye wash, thermometer, scissors, tweezers, sterile gloves, petroleum jelly, antibiotic ointment, stomach analgesics (e.g., Tums, Pepto-Bismol).
  • Paper goods — paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, zip-type bags.
  • Toiletries — personal hygiene supplies, diapers, tooth brushes, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant.
  • Duct tape, plastic sheeting.
  • Bottle opener, can opener.
  • Sharp knife.
  • Sleeping bags.
  • Towels.

Clothing

  • Extra socks, sturdy shoes or boots.
  • Heavy sweaters, shirts and pants.
  • Underwear.
  • Rain coats or ponchos.
  • Gym clothes for sleeping.
  • Spare glasses, reading glasses.

technology

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Electronics

  • Cell phones and chargers (charge before leaving).
  • Lap top computer, tablets, etc. and chargers (charge before leaving).
  • Cameras.
  • Flash drives/CDs with backups.

Miscellaneous

  • Folding chairs.
  • Books and toys for children.
  • Blankets and pillows.
  • Jewelry and irreplaceable mementos.
  • Collectible items.
  • Photo albums.
  • Special awards.

It's hard to know how long you'll be away from home, so preparing for the worse-case scenario will help when it comes to filing claims after the flood.

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