You may only have minutes to collect and protect important documents in the event that you are faced with a flood or fire in your home. The list of documents you need to keep includes medical and financial paperwork including birth, marriage and death certificates passports and other identification and insurance policy information as well as deeds and title documents. It can be time-consuming and difficult to replace these documents, so it is essential to store them in a secure location in case of disaster. The best method to do this is to inventory your papers, making extra copies for easy access and storing them in the right safe.
One of the best places to store important documents is in the safe deposit box at your bank. If you aren’t able to invest in a safe deposit box then you can purchase a fireproof safe for documents and place it in your home. They are available in various sizes and can be used to store hanging folders. You’ll want to choose one with a solid lock to avoid burglaries and an UL rating of at least an hour in temperatures ranging from to 1,700 degrees F. The Honeywell 1104 is a great option and costs around $125, although it’s about the width of a mini-refrigerator and weighs 56 pounds, which means it’s not very portable.
It is also possible to use a cabinet or filing drawer equipped with a combination lock or key lock to secure important documents from theft. However, it doesn’t provide any protection from a natural disaster, and the documents may be prone to destruction by heat or humidity. Consider using a labeled filing system to ensure the security of papers. Keep them in boxes or envelopes with labels so that they don’t get lost or destroyed by accident.