I get questions all the time about things I have in 'my bunker', as my co-workers so lovingly call it! One of them is interested in things to keep in his fireproof safe. Keeping a fireproof safe is wonderful, but taking an extra step to protect the documents you need and value, could go a long way. Think of purchasing literal and digital fireproof boxes.
First, what should be stored in a fireproof box. My recommendations are based on what will be the most beneficial to have immediately following a home fire or in an emergency. Most of the items on this list can actually be replaced, but having to replace them will cause you significant time and unnecessary stress. As a second component to the home fireproof box, I also recommend having a hard-drive stored at an off-site location.
Items I recommend you store in a home fireproof box:
- Current passports
- Birth certificates
- Social security cards
- Property titles
- Insurance policies
- A list of bank and credit card account numbers
- Copies of prescriptions for life-supporting medications
- Copies of your will/powers of attorney for medical and financial
- Spare keys to your car
- Immunization records
- extra book of checks/emergency credit card/some cash
Items I recommend you store digitally on a hard drive at a secure, off-site location:
- Scans of photo negatives and videos that you would be devastated to lose (like wedding photos and videos)
- Scans of your titles and insurance policies
- Scan of your Last Will and Testament
- Scan powers of attorney for medical and financial
- Scans of your passport, birth certificate, and social security card
- Scans of prescriptions for your life-supporting medications
- A text file containing your bank and credit card account numbers
- A recent backup of important computer documents
- Photos of the interior and exterior of your home taken within the last four months
- Recent photos of your pets
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