May 6, 2011

Essential Records

   Keeping and caring for your essential records should be an extremely high priority, especially in today's information driven world. Your entire life is bound up in these documents and for this reason I recommend you do your best to keep these safe, but accessible, so you can grab them in an emergency.
   Essential records are those records that are needed to maintain continuity in your life, with minimal disruption, following a disaster. These include birth certificates, bank records, diplomas, social security cards, credit card information, marriage license, patriarchal blessings, photos (which should be updated every six months), fingerprint cards, medical records, drivers licenses, medical insurance information, dental records, prescriptions, deed to your home, car titles, phone lists and anything else that you may need for your family.   
  Keep multiple types of copies, these can include an encrypted external storage drive not a flash drive, which is supposed to be used for data transfer not long term storage. Paper copies are a must and should be put on acid free paper. Microfiche is still an excellent option. All these should be stored in a wet seal bag or pelican style waterproof case to keep them dry, preferably with some sort of desiccant. Make sure to have multiple storage locations. Store at least one copy in a fire resistant and water proof safe. You want to have one set in a place which is easily accessible to you in case of emergency. Keep a second set in a remote location, like a family members home, preferably in a different state. Basically you want these records far enough away that you can't both be impacted by the same disaster. A good idea is to swap with whomever you are working with so that they too have a backup. The third set should be put in a secure location. The best place I can think of is a safe deposit box in a bank.
   Be careful with technology and make sure your storage and retrieval methods are kept current. It does no good to have all that information in storage if you can't get to it. Always keep in mind that the technology you have will eventually become outdated. Seriously, how many of you still have access to a floppy disk drive. Don't rely on CD's which are very fragile and easily corrupted.

- Casey