Emergency documents and cash: what to take and how to protect it

Documents and money in a crisis: a practical guide

⏱ 2 min read

A document folder, copies and cash. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

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Document folder

ID cards and passports for everyone in the household.
Birth and marriage certificates, property deeds, rental agreements.
Insurance policies, loan agreements and bank account details.
Medical records, a list of medicines and your blood group card.
Pet documents: health and vaccination records.

Copies

Copy the key documents onto an encrypted USB stick and keep it in your go bag.
Leave a second copy with someone you trust in another town or in a secure cloud.
Make sure everyone at home knows where the folder is.

Money

Keep some cash at home in small notes. In a crisis, cards, cash machines and online banking may not work.
Cash is an emergency reserve, not your life savings.
Write down your bank's helpline number so you can block a lost card.

Watch out

Never hand original documents to people offering help or transport.
Don't keep banking passwords together with your document copies.

Frequently asked questions

Which documents should I take in an evacuation?

IDs and passports, birth and marriage certificates, property papers, insurance policies, medical records and pet documents, ideally in one folder with a copy on a USB stick.

How much cash should I keep at home for emergencies?

Enough for a few days of shopping, in small notes. It is an emergency reserve, not your savings.

Where should I keep copies of documents?

On an encrypted USB stick in your go bag and with someone you trust elsewhere, or in a secure cloud.

Keep it on your phone

SurvivalZone.app is a free app for every emergency, with no account and no app store. It works without internet and shows the nearest shelters and help points, local radio, a 72-hour plan and a mountain trip planner.

Open SurvivalZone.app

Thank you for reading. If this could help someone, send it to the people you care about. Getting ready takes a moment, and in a crisis every minute counts.

Coming soon: the app’s permanent address will be survivalzone.app.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-08.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.