Keep Your Identity Safe During Hurricane Season

In the Southeastern part of the United States, what's commonly known as "Hurricane Season" has already begun. This is a time when many people in states prone to hurricanes will be keeping a close eye on the weather and possibly making preparations in case they have to evacuate. However, other problems lurk in the wake of natural disasters. A hurricane disaster area can also be an area ripe for identity theft if you don't take the proper precautions.

If you must evacuate, do not leave sensitive identifying documents (like birth certificates, Social Security cards, bank account, numbers, insurance papers) in easily accessible places in your home. They may be destroyed if your home is damaged in the storm or stolen by looters looking for information useful for committing identity theft. Make sure they are locked in a safe place where you can find them when you return.

Keep photocopies of these documents with you at all times and heavily guarded during evacuation and don't let them out of your site. You are especially vulnerable to identity theft when you are away from home. The Identity Theft Resource Center gives specific guidelines regarding protecting yourself from identity theft during hurricanes and other disasters, especially when evacuation is required.