Recovery
Documenting Your Exposure After a Local Incident
After a local incident, clear records help you — whether you're managing your health, dealing with insurance, or deciding whether to pursue a claim. You don't need special tools. You need to capture the right things while they're fresh.
Record the timeline
Write down where you were when the incident happened, how close you were, and how long you were in the area. Note any evacuation or shelter-in-place orders and when you learned of them.
Track symptoms and care
Keep a simple log of any symptoms, when they started, and how they change. Save records of medical visits, diagnoses, and prescriptions. If you see a clinician, tell them about the incident so it's noted in your record.
Save evidence
Photograph anything relevant — visible residue, damage, official notices, and receipts for anything you had to replace or pay for. Back up photos and videos so they aren't lost.
Keep it organized
A single folder — physical or digital — with your timeline, symptom log, medical records, and evidence is enough. If you later decide you want a free review, see whether you qualify. For background on specific incident types, browse our incident-type guides.
This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice.
Common questions
How soon should I start documenting?
As soon as it's safe. Details fade quickly, and contemporaneous notes — written while events are fresh — are more useful than reconstructions weeks later.
Do I need a lawyer to document my exposure?
No. Documentation is useful for your own health records regardless of whether you ever pursue a claim. If you later want a review, good records make that process easier.