Which documents and how much cash to keep for an emergency?

Short answer. Keep copies of identification, insurance policies and bank records, saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container ², plus some cash in small bills, because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster ¹. Official cash guidance ranges from 72 hours of spending (Netherlands: €70 per adult; Finland) ⁷⁸ to about a week (Sweden: about 1,000 kronor per adult) ⁶ or a few weeks (Canada) ⁴.

Why do agencies tell you to keep documents and cash ready?

Official guidance points to two problems after a disaster: proving who you are and what you own, and paying for basic purchases. Ready.gov warns that "ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster" ¹. Canada's Get Prepared guidance adds that "it may also be difficult to get cash from banks" ⁴.

Documents matter for the weeks after the event. FEMA's Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) notes that once you complete its first two sections, household identification and financial and legal documentation, "you will have the information needed to apply for FEMA disaster assistance" ³. The same kit says its identification records help you prove the identity of all household members after a disaster strikes ³.

Which documents should you keep?

The official lists overlap closely. FEMA's EFFAK organises records into four groups: household identification, financial and legal documentation, medical information, and household contacts ³. Germany's BBK goes further and says which papers to keep as originals and which as copies ⁵.

The BBK stresses that which documents matter depends on your own situation ⁵. FEMA says the same: you may not need every item on its checklist ³.

How should you store them?

Three rules come up in both the US (FEMA) and German (BBK) guidance.

1. One container, ready to grab. Ready.gov lists important family documents "saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container" as part of a basic kit ². The BBK recommends one document folder kept in a single place, and says every household member should know where it is ⁵.
2. A second copy elsewhere. FEMA advises "keeping an extra copy in a safe place that you can access if your main copy is damaged or misplaced" ³. The BBK suggests digital copies, or copies left with relatives, friends, a notary or lawyer, or in a bank safe-deposit box ⁵.
3. Copies of what you carry. For items you normally keep in your wallet, such as an insurance card, FEMA says to make a copy and store it with your kit ³. For a driver's licence and other photo ID, it advises photocopying the front and back ³.

FEMA's checklist also has a "Date Added/Updated" column and asks you to review it when your household circumstances change ³.

How much cash should you keep?

There is no single international figure. Some agencies give an amount, others give a time period, and the time periods differ.

• United States. Ready.gov advises keeping "a small amount of cash at home in a safe place", in small bills ¹. Its kit list includes "cash or traveler's checks" ². It gives no dollar figure ¹.
• Canada. The Get Prepared kit guidance says: "If possible, have enough to cover your basic needs for a few weeks" ⁴. It gives no dollar figure ⁴.
• Netherlands. De Nederlandsche Bank publishes a guideline of €70 per adult and €30 per child, meant to cover the most essential spending in the first 72 hours after a disaster or emergency ⁷. It suggests a mix of low-value notes and about 50 euro coins in total, so you can pay the exact amount as often as possible ⁷. The figure comes from the national payments forum (MOB), whose members include DNB, banks, consumer and retail groups and the Ministry of Finance ⁷.
• Sweden. The Riksbank recommends about 1,000 kronor in cash per adult as a guideline ⁶. It was based on Konsumentverket's 2025 estimate of monthly household food spending, converted to a weekly level with a small addition ⁶. It also recommends cards on different networks, for example both Visa and Mastercard ⁶.
• Finland. The Bank of Finland recommends enough cash for three days, and asks you to estimate what your household would need over a 72-hour period without payment cards ⁸. It adds that "it is not advisable, however, to keep large amounts of cash at home" ⁸.

Where they diverge. Finland and the Netherlands plan for 72 hours ⁷⁸, Sweden for about a week ⁶, and Canada for "a few weeks" where possible ⁴. A reasonable reading is to start with the official figure for your country, then adjust it to your household's own needs, as both DNB and the Riksbank say ⁶⁷.

What official agencies recommend

A dash means the source used here covers only cash or only documents, not that the country has no advice on the other topic.

Frequently asked questions

Should I keep originals or copies in my emergency kit?

Mostly copies. The BBK says ID cards, passports, driving licences and vaccination records can be simple copies, while family certificates such as birth and marriage certificates should be kept as originals in the document folder ⁵. Ready.gov accepts electronic copies or paper in a waterproof, portable container ².

Is a digital copy enough?

It is one accepted option. Ready.gov lists documents "saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container" ², and the BBK recommends backing up copies digitally or storing them elsewhere ⁵. FEMA also advises an extra copy in a safe place you can reach if your main copy is damaged or misplaced ³.

How much cash should a family of four keep?

Using official figures: in the Netherlands, two adults and two children come to €200 for 72 hours (2 × €70 + 2 × €30) ⁷. In Sweden, the guideline is about 1,000 kronor per adult ⁶. In Finland, estimate what your household would need for three days without payment cards ⁸. In the US and Canada, no figure is set ¹⁴.

Why small bills and coins?

Ready.gov recommends small bills because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster ¹. DNB advises low-value notes and about 50 coins so you can pay the exact amount ⁷.

How often should I update my document folder?

FEMA asks you to record the date you add each document and to review your checklist when your household circumstances change ³.

Sources

1. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Financial Preparedness — https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Build A Kit — https://www.ready.gov/kit (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. FEMA and Operation HOPE — Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) Checklists and Forms, FEMA P-2063 (September 2019) — https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/ready_emergency-financial-first-aid-toolkit-checklists-and-forms.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Government of Canada — Emergency kits — https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/emergency-kits.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. BBK (Germany) — Dokumente sichern — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Vorsorge/So-koennen-Sie-sich-vorbereiten/Dokumente-sichern/dokumente-sichern_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. Sveriges Riksbank — Hushåll bör ha flera betalsätt för att kunna betala vid störningar, till exempel 1 000 kronor i kontanter per vuxen — https://www.riksbank.se/sv/betalningar--kontanter/sa-betalar-svenskarna/betalningsrapport-2026/riksbankens-policyrekommendationer/hushall-bor-ha-flera-betalsatt-for-att-kunna-betala-vid-storningar-till-exempel-1-000-kronor-i-kontanter-per-vuxen/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. De Nederlandsche Bank — Contant geld in jouw noodpakket — https://www.dnb.nl/betalen/contant-geld-in-jouw-noodpakket/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
8. Bank of Finland — 'Home emergency kit' for payments — https://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/money-and-payments/varautuminen/maksamisen-kotivara/ (accessed 2026-10-20)