Picking up the pieces after a natural disaster can be a long and stressful process. It’s sometimes difficult to know where to start, but replacing vital records you’ve lost should be high up on the list. Without records such as a birth certificate and driver’s license, you might have trouble taking care of the other necessary storm damage restoration processes. Here are some of the most important documents to replace as soon as possible if they’re lost.

Replace These Documents ASAP After a Natural Disaster

1. Driver’s License

Having a valid form of photo identification is very important, so it should be one of your first to-dos in the storm damage restoration process. Without one, you may be denied replacements for other documents you need to obtain. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles offers a convenient way to replace your license online for a small fee. The department will verify your Social Security number, and the credential will be mailed to you within seven to 10 days.

2. Birth Certificate

If your birth certificate is lost in a natural disaster, it should be replaced with an official copy as soon as possible. This document is incredibly important not only for long-term needs, but also for providing the necessary identification for replacing other important records. The Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, FL, can issue replacement birth certificates (for a nominal fee) but you need to have an official form of photo identification on-hand such as a driver’s license, passport, military ID, or state ID.

3. Social Security Card

Although simply knowing your Social Security number is more important than having the physical card on hand, the card can be used as a form of secondary identification when getting some other documents replaced during the storm damage restoration process. To get a replacement card, you’ll need to visit your local Social Security office and provide proof of your identity. The primary forms of identification are a driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport. If you don’t have these documents and can’t get replacements within 10 days, however, you can use an employee ID card, school ID card, health insurance card, or military ID.

4. Passport

Whether your passport was damaged in a natural disaster or lost completely, you’ll need to get a replacement. Applications for new passports must be done in person and you must have several documents on hand including the old passport (if it was damaged), the application papers, citizenship proof, current ID, photocopies of your identification documents, and a passport photo.

Whether your home has been damaged in a fire or flood, the storm damage restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Greater St. Augustine / St. Augustine Beach in St. Johns County, FL, are ready to help you pick up the pieces. The company’s highly trained technicians will thoroughly inspect the damage and develop a plan of action while communicating with you every step of the way. And with 24-hour emergency service, help is never far away. Visit the website for more information on the restoration process or call (904) 429-4457 to speak with a friendly representative today.