Grab and Go File

In view of recent natural disasters world wide, I began thinking about what I would grab if such an emergency hit my home. These thoughts led me to develope a 'Grab and Go' File, which I have put together and have stored in the bookcase near my front door. My file, a poly-urethane file case, includes the following:

• Copies of our wills, Bank details (numbers, branches, and other account details), copies of our passports, mortgage details and copies of other legal documents.
• Copies of our degrees and other professional documents, marriage certificates and other personal documents for both my husband and myself.
• A small photo album of each child and some significant photos of us as a couple, some family documents of our families eg family tree, diaries, letters and other similar papers.
• Photographs of any family heirlooms including furniture, jewellery etc.

All of these documents are sealed in the airtight file box and I will check them each year. All family members have been notified of both the box location and the documents inside. By thinking about this situation in advance, and being prepared for it, I hope that it never occurs. However, if disaster falls, we are prepared and can grab the file and flee, knowing that all of the important papers and documents are intact, even if we have nothing else.