|
How do you store important documents, photos, etc. in case of emergencies?
|
|
|
|
|
24/01/2013, 02:26 PM
|

Posts: 187
Joined: 27-July 12
|
|
Member
|
|
I'm trying to come up with a good way of storing all our important documents etc. in case there's a house fire (or other emergency) and we need to get out quickly. So how do you manage yours? At the bare minimum I would want to take:
- passports - birth/marriage certificates - computer (or at least back up of files) - digital photographs (and some pre-digital hard copies) - insurance policies - heirlooms/personal memorabilia - list of important phone numbers (ie. family members to contact)
What else is considered 'essential'?
And then I'd also like to be able to take:
- a small amount of cash - purse/wallet - mobile phone - glasses - what else?
At the moment all this sort of stuff is spread all over the house, so if there was a true emergency, we'd be frantically trying to get all this stuff together (assuming all people and animals were safe outside).
So do you store all these sorts of things in one place so that you could just grab a bag/box on your way out? And what else would you include? Would your DH/DP know what you would want to have taken with you, and/or know where all your stuff would be?
Just curious to know how other people manage this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25/01/2013, 08:45 AM
|
   
Posts: 9,074
Joined: 16-October 02
|
|
+
|
|
- passports - birth/marriage certificates Fire proof bank safe. I keep certified copies at home for my convenience. I also have scanned email copies so I can access while on the go. I have given copies to my parents and a set at DH's work as a back up but that's mainly for a back up if we lose anything while travelling. Much easier to cancel cards when we know the numbers.
- computer (or at least back up of files) - digital photographs (and some pre-digital hard copies) DH has set our computers to automatically back up to the 'cloud' (still not quite sure what it is). He also has a hard drive with photos at work but I don't think it's as up to date.
Our pre digital photos, I could grab the albums but probably wouldn't bother. Our lives are more important. Anyway, most of those photos could be pieced together by scouring the albums of other family members.
- insurance policies We use a broker who offers personalized service. I think our policy gets emailed to us so we would have a digital copy.
- heirlooms/personal memorabilia Wouldn't bother saving 'stuff'. It's just not that important to us (we have antique furniture that has been in the family for generations, my collection of designer hand bags, shoes, clothes etc). Again, our lives are more important than stuff. I'd be more inclined to grab necessities such as change of clothes, water, food.
- list of important phone numbers (ie. family members to contact) On my phone. Addresses book is also on my computer. Phone numbers of close family I have memorized and they can call other people as needed.
What else is considered 'essential'? I generally have a GTFO kit in my car because its handy with children. We could survive out of the car for a few days at a pinch.
I would also try and get out pets but I would probably have trouble rounding up all our poultry.
- a small amount of cash In my handbag and in the car at all times
- purse/wallet - mobile phone Kept on the kitchen bench so easy to grab and go.
- glasses I wear them
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25/01/2013, 09:11 AM
|
  
Posts: 3,463
Joined: 21-May 04
|
|
older than I feel
|
|
I keep all important documents - passports, birth and marriage certificates in "the purple folder".
It's not just for fire or emergency, but as DH travels a lot for work and needs his passport often, and I got sick of him asking me where his passport was!!
We have a separate hard drive backup for the computer, so I would grab that and the purple folder, as well as my purse, phone, keys.
Another essential for us is the medicine box, which contains all essential medications and prescriptions. Could be replaced, but would take time and mean missing out on required medication until they could be replaced, so important for us to take.
Insurance policies - you don't need the hard copy to claim anyway,so that's not necessary.
Everything else can either be replaced, or is not as important as my family. Sure I would miss the special items of memorabilia, family things, special craft the kids have made and photos etc, but if I had to make a quick exit, it would be last on my list. If we were preparing to evacuate (eg in advance of fire) then I would take some of those items as well as change of clothes etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25/01/2013, 09:59 AM
|
   
Posts: 5,870
Joined: 4-September 10
From: ACT
|
|
+
|
We have one of these  Actually we have one with all the important all the time docs (birth certificates, breeder papers for the animals, house documents, work docs etc.) Then we have one for each year with insurance, rego, rates, electricity/gas/water bills, vax docs for the animals, medical bills etc. They are in the study (the all the time one and this year and last years docs.) That way we just grab those 3 and we are sorted. We'd have all the account numbers etc for everything that we could possibly need. We would also grab both our computer and our external hard drive. We also have a tub packed for camping and it has melamine plates and bowls and cutlery and a bundle of cooking stuff (fry pan/knives/chopping boards/cooker etc). We'd just have to chuck food in and we'd be self sufficient for a little while. It is with our camp beds etc and easy to get in the garage. Though if we were close to catastrophic I'd bring it up into the house.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
|
Got bored kids? Quickly find the best activities for kids wherever you are in Australia with the Essential Kids app.
A virus that can cause paralysis in children has been circulating in NSW and has recently spread to Victoria. Learn more about it, including its symptoms.
Perhaps the biggest lesson motherhood has to teach us is a quality that's closely linked to trust ? and that is that we also have to surrender.
We know you're busy. That's why we've made it easier to connect with us online.
On some days, the crippling pain means I am in agony just climbing the stairs, getting out of the car and even getting out of bed. I can no longer push my son around in his buggy, I can't take him to the park alone, and I can barely lift him out of his cot.
The brutal treatment of Nigella Lawson by her wealthy husband has shattered a few myths we hold about intimate partner violence.
Venezuela's Congress will next week discuss legislation that would ban bottle feeding, in an effort to encourage breastfeeding and reduce the use of baby formula in the nation.
Quinoa is a particularly well-dressed child who enjoys haute couture, meditation and all things chevron. And she's the imaginary star of a very funny Pinterest board.
It?s a simple premise: a dad re-enacts the conversations he has with his two year old daughter ? but the daughter is played by a grown man. And the results are very, very funny.
A UK study shows that one-fifth of mothers have accepted hand-me-downs for their children. We look at what items are safe to pass on, and what should be thrown away.
Somewhere along the journey, someone removed my ?me? identity and replaced it with ?mum?. Here's what I've learnt about finding my 'me' again.
Why do the ordinary people who go to extraordinary lengths to help give children a better life often end up out of pocket?
Check out our new interactive ebook, part of the brand new SMH Shortbooks series, for free!
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can win a Safety 1st car seat featuring Air Protect side-impact technology and a travel pack, valued at $290.
You could win the stylish 4WD Cosmopolitan pram from Mountain Buggy, valued at $799.
You could win one of 10 copies of the album Ten in the Bed by Jay Laga'aia.
You could win 1 of 4 $50 vouchers to spend at babyography.net.au.
It's party time!
Find everything you need to plan your next kids party. Essential Kids has ideas for kids party themes, free printable invites, cake ideas and tips for party games.
Featured Promotions
Advertisement
|