Please follow Carol's suggestion on keeping copies of papers outside the home. A 30-year family history researcher that uses my local Family History Center had is house burn down in a wind driven fire event this summer. Fortunately, with help from a neighbor he was able to save most, but not all of his research. He didn't have copies outside of the home. If he hadn't been home, all would have been lost. When I saw him for the first time a couple months after the event, he was still in a bit of shock over the whole thing. One other suggestion, send copies to family and friends in separate areas of the country. There have been occasions when my house in Washington State and my sister's house in Southern California have been threatened by fire at the same time. Sue Richart Stevens County, Washington On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 11:49 AM, Carol Botteron < wrote: >>From: "Barbara Shepard Smith" <t> >> >>Hi Betty, with regard to all the precious information. I have scanned over >>100 years of photos, papers, and backed up genealogy programs to discs, and >>put them all in a safety deposit box at the bank, I think it cost me $40 a >>year for rent. Well worth it, > > Articles and radio reports on emergency planning talk about important > papers, including not only your key genealogical papers but also the > deed to your house, proof of insurance, etc. > > They suggest having copies of important information outside your > home -- in a safe deposit box, your office, a relative's home, etc. > > For important papers you keep at home, they suggest keeping them > together, preferably in a box marked "Emergency Papers" that you > can easily grab if you have to leave because of fire or flood. > > Carol B. >