There are few tragedies in life worse than a fire. According to estimates based on data the NFPA(National Fire Protection Association) received from fire departments responding to its 2010 National Fire Experience Survey, there was a reported 1,331,500 fires in the United States in 2010. That means that approximately every 24 seconds, somewhere in the U.S. a fire department responded to a fire. During that period of time, an estimated .1 billion of personal property loss occurred in residential property fires.
A fireproof safe is an excellent security investment and a way to ensure that you protect all of your valuable personal property, irreplaceable heirlooms & important documents so that you are prepared for such disasters. The question is, what items should be stored a fireproof safe?
Here is a top 10 list of the items everyone must keep in a fireproof safe:
o Your family's original birth certificates and passports. These important documents are very helpful in establishing your identity and can be very difficult and time-consuming to replace, not to mention the cost.
o Your original Social Security cards. These may be needed to establish eligibility for aid and can be very difficult and time- consuming to replace.
o All current insurance policies and contact information for your agent. This is important information that you will need right away if you are the victim of a house fire.
o A list of all of your medical information such as: family doctors, prescription medications, and all pharmacies you use for medications. These will be needed to replace regularly used medications lost in the fire.
o Important documents related to bank accounts, investments, retirement plans, and associated contact information. Access to readily available funds is usually needed during the time of disasters.
o Keys to safety deposit boxes. In the event of an emergency, you will want to make sure you can access valuables that are stored in safe deposit boxes at financial institutions.
o Copy of all wills, including family wills, in which you are designated the executor. Living wills are very important to protect so that the proper care of loved ones are rightfully administered.
o Documentation of your outstanding debts, due dates, and contact information. It's important to protect your credit information and financial responsibilities if you are displaced by a fire.
o Copies of your powers of attorney and any other important legal documents such as: health care proxies-for both yourself and for anyone else for whom you are designated attorney-in-fact or health care surrogate. These documents were created to provide for your households legal protection and again can be very difficult and time-consuming to replace in time of disasters.
o Family heirlooms and digital copies of all family photos on CDs or an external hard drive. Unlike most other personal property, your family heirlooms and memories as preserved in photos are irreplaceable. You should scan all older family photos and keep a digital copy of them as well.
Even though 91% of Americans agree it is important to take steps to prepare for a disaster, only slightly more than half of Americans have made those preparations to protect their important documents and valuable personal property. No one really expects a fire to strike, but the fact is it can. Whether it is accidental, a crime of arson, an act of nature or due to a mishap in a home, fires do happen. High quality fireproof safes can help protect the items you hold dear, while freeing you up to take care of the people in your life and recovering from the disaster.
