Just in Case (21 page)
Marriage license
If possible, obtain copies of all documents. Store one copy in a safe deposit box, and keep the originals in a fireproof file box in a secure location in your home. Also include in each location a copy of all your credit card numbers and the VIN and license plate numbers of your vehicles. If you have valuables that are insured, keep an up-to-date inventory, complete with serial numbers and pictures.
For many people, family photographs are their most cherished possessions. Fortunately, it is easier than ever to protect them. Digital photos can be copied onto a disk and the disk left with a friend. They can also be sent by e-mail to a relative. Older photos can be copied and the copies left in another location. If you still have pictures developed, make a habit of ordering two copies and store one away from your home. If I had a fire, I could replace my sofa but not my children’s baby pictures.
Digital information can be key for many people. It is for me; I keep my manuscripts on my computer. Each night, I e-mail myself my day’s work and save it on my server. I might lose my laptop in a fire, but not a year’s worth of hard work. If you can’t easily keep your vital files in an off-site location or on a hard disk in your fireproof safe, consider registering with one of the Internet businesses that lets you save data on their servers.