Disaster Management at Home



Family Tree Magazine (September 2013, page 58) asks:

“How would your family archive fare in a fire, flood, or other home disaster?”

The article suggests looking at threats within your home and assessing possible damage to articles based on storage location.   Then, make a disaster plan and relocate any items to better locations. 

Make a Disaster Plan:

  • Inspect your house or apartment for areas of positional water leaks, backups or other hazards your home may face. 

  • Move heirloom documents and photographs away from vulnerable areas of your home.  (sun light, water,

  • Purchase archival storage boxes and number it according to the order you’d grab it in an evacuation.

  • Inventory valuable objects, including boxes of photos and documents.  Identify them clearly so they could be easily located by anyone in a recovery or salvage situation.  Keep a copy of the inventory off-site.

  • Consult with your insurance agent about any special coverage needed for valuables.

  • Plan to digitize your most valuable or one-of-a-kind documents and pictures, and to photograph heirloom objects.  Store copies of the images in multiple locations away from your home.


Source:  Family Tree Magazine, September 2013, page 58 and 59.

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