Between the morning of May 1^st and the evening of May 2^nd, more than 13 inches of rain fell here in  Nashville. Flood waters invaded the city and surrounding communities to a degree never before experienced. Sadly, some of our co-workers suffered great property losses and are now dealing with complex aspects of recovery from this natural disaster.

In an effort to look for positive outcomes from this tragic event, today our team of Licensed Investigators shares insights culled from the experience of our colleagues in relation to matters of personally identifiable information (PII).

Prior to an emergency:

• Make sure important papers (items of identification such as driver’s licenses, proof of insurance, etc.) are up-to-date.
• Store these items in a protective container.
• Notify each adult in the household where these items are stored.
• Keep an inventory of other areas where PII is kept such as computers.
• See that each adult has at least one utility bill in his or her name and has access to that account via internet.

In the midst of an evacuation:

Know what to take and protect in priority. Identification documentation is vital. Items of identification such as your driver’s license must be current with your correct address. You will need to prove your residence for return entry into your community and for application for federal assistance.

After the immediate emergency event:

When proving your address in order to apply for financial assistance, utility bills are normally used in addition to a driver’s license or state ID card. This is when it may be helpful to have online access to a couple of utility accounts as your paper copies may not be accessible.

Use your inventory of places where PII is stored to help you locate and, if necessary, dispose of it properly. A computer, even wet, must be disposed of properly if it contains PII, instead of just being left at the curb.

You and your home are continuously exposed after such an event, i.e., you have to evacuate; you have to leave your home open to help it dry; you have volunteers willing to help you sift through remains of your home; and you are the target of people ready to take advantage of your situation. Some basic preparation will prove its worth in the midst of the event and might give you some sense of control.

Tags: crisis, emergency event, financial assistance, identification, PII

Categories: Consumer ID Security.