Safe Documents Storage
You might only have a few minutes to collect and safeguard important documents in the event that you are confronted by an emergency like a fire or flood within your home. Documents to save include medical and financial paperwork like birth, marriage, and death certificates passports, as well as other types of identification; details about insurance policies, and title documents or deeds. It can be time-consuming and difficult to replace these documents, which is why it is crucial to keep them in a secure place in the event of a disaster. Take inventory of all your documents, then make extra copies to have them readily available, and then store them in a secure.
One of the best places to keep important documents is in a safe deposit box at your bank. If you cannot afford this you can buy a fireproof safe for documents and put it in your home. They come in a variety of sizes and are designed to accommodate hanging folders for files. You’ll want to select one with a sturdy lock to stop burglaries and has an minimum UL rating of an hour for temperatures up to 1,700 degrees F. The Honeywell 1104 is a great choice and only costs about $125, but it’s the same size as a mini-refrigerator and weighs 56 pounds, meaning it’s not very portable.
You can also use a drawer or filing cabinet equipped with a combination or key lock to safeguard your important papers from theft. This won’t protect you from natural disasters or a fire, and your files could be damaged by heat or humidity. To increase the safety of your paper files, consider using a labelled filing system and organizing them in labelled envelopes or storage boxes to prevent misplacement or accidental destruction.