| By :
Wendy Moyer
Did you ever think about what you would take with you if there was an impending disaster such as a hurricane or a tornado and you had to "get out of Dodge" really quick? Imagine the repercussions if disaster strikes and you physically escape but haven't taken the necessary precautions to protect your valuables. How long do you think it would take to recreate figure out whom to contact about your waterlogged insurance policies and will, your credit card information, etc.? Read this article to find out how to back up your important documents and keep your potential financial debacle to a minimum. Here are half a dozen things you may want to consider: 1. Make copies of all your important documents. This will include your powers of attorney, trusts, wills, health-care directives, birth certificates and marriage certificates, passports, loan documents, deeds, the front and back of your credit cards, insurance policies, appraisals, certificates of authenticity, and personal papers that are important to you. These might also include photographs or DVDs of your photos, your favorite recipes, your children's drawings, love letters, etc. Back up your computer onto an external hard drive periodically and keep it in your safe. 2. Open up a safe deposit box at a nearby bank that's large enough to store the information you've just copied along with any valuables you want to store. Make sure that the safe deposit box is accessible to someone you trust if you are unable to access it yourself. 3. Keep a duplicate copy of this paperwork in your home safe. A safe in your home will also come in handy to store things that you use periodically or might need immediate access to. Such items could be your jewelry, a spare set of keys, your stamp and coin collections, original photos, firearms, etc. 4. Put together a list of your access codes, PIN numbers, passwords, and your home safe's combination and put it in your safe deposit box. Put a duplicate copy, along with a duplicate safe deposit key in your home safe. 5. Anything that's important but can't be duplicated or photocopied should be put into a portable file box and kept in an easily accessible place. Make sure to put the file box in your safe when you go on vacation. If disaster does strike when you're at home remember to grab the box before you leave. 6. Make an inventory of all your possessions and keep copies in your home safe and safe deposit box. This will speed up the insurance claim process if disaster strikes. Make sure to include the serial numbers, purchase price, and date you purchased the items on the inventory.
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