Before the Next Storm, Take Pictures of These 7 Things in Your Home

Nobody wants to spend a Saturday photographing their water heater. It takes about fifteen minutes, and it is the highest-return preparedness task there is, because the payoff is measured in insurance dollars rather than in survival.

The seven

1. Every room, panning slowly from the doorway.
2. Open closets and cabinets, so contents are visible.
3. Electronics and appliances, including model numbers where you can see them.
4. The water heater, furnace, and electrical panel.
5. The roofline and gutters, from the yard.
6. Serial numbers on anything expensive.
7. The policy documents themselves, so you have the numbers without the paperwork.

Where to put it

Anywhere that is not the house. A cloud photo album shared with one family member outside your area is the simplest version. A copy on a cheap USB drive in a bag you would grab anyway is the backup to the backup.

Documents & Organization

Fireproof Document Pouch

One place for the papers you would hate to re-request.

Why we recommend it

Half of preparedness is knowing where things are. A single pouch means the answer to \"grab the documents\" is one motion instead of ten minutes.

Best for: Renters and homeowners alike

Pros

• + Grab-and-go
• + Fire and water resistant

Worth knowing

• − Not a substitute for digital copies

$20–$35 · Amazon

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