How to Choose the Best Fireproof Safe for Your Valuables

You never know when disaster could strike, so having a plan in place to protect yourself is important. But what about your valuables? If you own a fair amount of precious stone and metal jewelry insurance offers a great safety net. The World Meteorological Organization has tracked $3.64 trillion in economic losses globally over the past 50 years, as wildfires and extreme weather events like storms and floods have dramatically increased. Just last year in the U.S., structure fires caused $12.9 billion in direct property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

What's the best way to protect your vital documents (and cash) in case of a disaster? Keep copies in a fireproof safe; after all, you will likely need these documents to help you in the aftermath of said disaster. For example, you'll need copies of your financial documents to contact your insurance providers and get help from government disaster relief programs.

Luckily, there are tons of options out there when it comes to finding a safe—it's about finding the one that fits your budget and needs. And, of course, one that has all the proper security features. Read on to find out which documents you should protect, along with some top-rated recommendations for fireproof safes.

Keep Copies of Important Documents in a Safe

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends storing paper copies of your essential documents and cash in a fireproof, waterproof safe. Important financial documents include lease or mortgage papers, bank records, insurance policies, tax statements, vehicle information, or student loan information. Don't forget to have copies of your estate planning papers, such as wills, trusts, living will, and power of attorney documents.

FEMA recommends also having digital copies of all important documents in a password-protected flash drive or hard drive that can then be stored in your fireproof and waterproof safe. You can keep emergency cash in there as well. Regardless of extreme weather and natural disasters, it's good practice to keep copies of your vital records in a safe so the information is accessible to you when you need it.

Look for Safes With Fire Ratings

Most of the time, you will see that a fireproof safe has been UL (Underwriter Laboratories) rated or classified. This tells how much heat a safe can take and for how long. For example, the description will say that a safe has been UL rated to withstand one hour of 1700-degree temperatures. This rating is important because it lets you know that the safe is actually fireproof.