When you're traveling, you need to have your papers on you at all times in case of an emergency. If you need to go to the hospital, you will want to prove who are you are and have some sort of information on you that details insurance and blood type. If you need to go to the US embassy, you will want to make sure that you can prove that you are from the United States.
In order to ensure that you can have access to your documents again, even if they are lost or stolen, you will want to keep copies of these documents in an encrypted online storage system, such as a Cloud. There are three main types of emergency documents that you should store in a Cloud so that you can print them at any time or request new copies.
1. Documents That Explain Who You Are
When you're traveling, no one in the country can vouch for you. Some documents that will prove who you are include your birth certificate, Social Security Number card, driver's license, and passport. You won't be able to use these documents to get back into the country, but you can take them to the embassy in order to reorder a passport should yours be lost or stolen.
2. Documents to Help You Pay
Keep information about your bank account and credit cards in the Cloud. Make a copy of the front and back of every single credit and debit card you have and upload it to the Cloud. Also take a check from your personal checking account and scan it into a data storage system. Having these documents on-hand will make it easier to speed up the time that it takes you to get your credit and debit cards and have access to your money again.
Consider keeping a single large bill on you, such as a $100 bill in a place where no one will look. This will make it easier for you to weather the time while you don't have access to your credit cards.
3. Documents to Provide Health Information
Get a card that has any special medical conditions you have printed on it, as well as your blood type and any allergies that you might have. Make a copy of this card and store it online. Also get a copy of your health insurance card and store it.
Because you will be storing sensitive information, make sure that your online data storage system is totally encrypted and secure. Learn more about your options by consulting resources like Vital Records Control.
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