Fire box/safety box/emergency papers. What do you carry?

Useroverdrive wrote:
Adding Good sam cards and aarp cards, now that I've hit the 50 y/o milestone...

You'll want your Good Sams and Passport America cards to be very handy because they get used a lot.
We have a fireproof safe that contains:
original health care docs and powers of attorney
passports
some jewelry
extra cash
keys to storage uit
back up hard drive
birth certificates
social security cards
checks and checkbooks
infrequently used credit cards

Also, I sent an email to both kids detailing our rig and truck info (plate # etc)
a list of what we own and where it is, where the keys are to rig, storage unit, and fireproof box, where our important papers are, and the password to our computer. And I hope they never need the info!

Sue

Adding Good sam cards and aarp cards, now that I've hit the 50 y/o milestone...

I'm getting good feedback and I appreciate it a lot. I wonder about the "legality" of scanned documents. I'm guessing they would suffice in a pinch.I like the idea of the usb sticks. I would assume the dmv wouldn't have a problem with a duplicate license and vehicle registration. Maybe the same with a credit card.

I still like the idea of a combination lock, but if for some reason I were unconscious, maybe a key taped on the bottom of the box. Plus it makes sense that if someone wants the stuff, they'll get it one way or another.

My initial list:

fire rated box with handle. combo lock w/key backup
spare license and registration(s)
vehicle insurance card(s)
spare credit card
XX$ in cash
spare keys (toad, S&B,)

All documents scanned to laptop, Also saved on 2 usb chips. 1 for me in purse, 1 for DH in car(Dodge Journey). Original docs stored in tow vehicle (KW). Grab cat, purse, laptop, & out the door.

Excellent ideas and thanks to all for the ideas. Please keep them coming

As full timers we used two Sentry fire resistant boxes. We had a lot of stuff in them like birth certificates, passports, insurance policies, titles, and other papers.

In the trunk of our car we also kept a list of all important phone numbers and an old cell phone that could activated if necessary. Also a list of passwords for banking and other web sites.

Did the cell phone and numbers thing after the guy across from us lost his phone when his travel trailer burned to the ground and I saw the problems he had notifying his insurance company and so forth.

I fulltime and use a fireproof file box sized safe. I keep my important papers there. I figure if my RV burns down, it will be ashes long before the fire rating of the safe is exceeded. And it's heavy, so I won't be carrying it out with me. Besides my goal would be to grab my "bug out bag" as I head out of the RV. I also have one in my car. Extra clothes and a blanket in a couple of those travel space bags, copies of med scripts (not the actual medication as I just need to go to a pharmacy where it's all on file anyway),reading glasses, tiny first aid kit and a bit of cash to buy things like my meds, plus a few other things. I figure I can always sleep in my car anyway. Bug out bag are like first aid kits, they need to be personalized and you need more than one. If you are carrying cash, the government will replace burned money only if enough survived so that the denomination can be identified and the 51% threshold is met. http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consumerawareness/a/replacemoney.htm

I keep everything in a briefcase and this goes with us to the vehicle during the day and back in the camper with us at night. Not fool-proof, I know.

My first thought is are you full time or a weekender like me? I don't see any need for one for us.

If full time you will need to be carrying some important stuff and a fireproof box would be a good idea.

WE bought a small document safe that is fire rated from Wal-Mart. I bolted it down to the floor in one of our storage areas. We keep anything that is important ( documents, jewelry, cash, gun, etc..) in it.