How To Replace Valuable Docs Plus A Safe Buyer's Guide

Did you know that the US Treasury Department will replace damaged money? Or that you can request a replacement for your birth certificate or social security card? Most of us are storing these valuables tucked away in the bottom of a drawer, hidden from casual viewers and only marginally safely kept. If our home unfortunately burned down, were flooded, or robbed, it’s likely we’d pretty much lose everything we should be safekeeping. Here's a list of items you should be keeping in a fireproof and waterproof safe, as well as how to replace these items if lost.

The United States government has a nice website with helpful information on how to replace your vital documents:

Bank Records: Get financial tips and resources for disaster recovery.
Birth, Marriage, and Death Certificates: Get records based on the location of the birth, death, marriage, or divorce.
Damaged Money: The Treasury Department will exchange mutilated or damaged U.S. currency.
Document Restoration - Fire: The Library of Congress offers information on restoring fire-damaged documents and collections.
Document Restoration - Flood: The National Archives offers information on how to care for your flood damaged photos, books, papers, and more.
Drivers' Licenses and Vehicle Registration: Find your state's motor vehicle department to get or replace your driver's license, and register your car.
Federal Civilian Personnel Records: Go to the National Archives website for guidance on requesting personnel records for former federal civilian employees. Current federal workers can get personnel records from their human resources office.
Green Card Replacement: Get instructions on how to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged permanent resident card (green card).
Medicare Card Replacement: Learn how to replace a lost, stolen, or damaged Medicare card.
Military Service Records: Get copies of military service records, to prove military service or to research genealogy.
Passport: Report your lost or stolen passport immediately. Contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if your passport is lost or stolen overseas.
Savings Bonds Recovery: Cash and replace lost, stolen, or destroyed bonds.
School Records: Contact your former school or the appropriate school district if the school has closed.
Social Security Card Replacement: Learn how to replace your lost or stolen Social Security card.
Tax Return: Request a copy of your federal tax return from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

When buying a safe, you'll need to consider a few factors:

Most safes will state their degree of fire resistance - how long and how hot. Safes that don't break the bank usually last for about an hour or so before you've got to get it out of the burning house. While we don't recommend you jumping into the flames to save your safe, hopefully the fire department will have put out the fire before too much time has passed.
Consider what and how much stuff you're going to be keeping in the safe, and make sure the capacity is large enough to store it all.
If you're only worried about fire and water protection, small safes do a fine job of it. They are also fairly easy to steal, so either find a good hiding spot or buy a model that can securely bolt into your wall or floor.
For frequent overseas travelers it's a good place to store extra or leftover currency for future visits.
Store sensitive digital information on a USB memory stick and keep it in your safe. If it’s not *that private you can keep it stored in the cloud with Dropbox or other online file storage services.
It's always a good idea to keep firearms locked away out of reach of children and thieves. There are gun-specific safes made for all types of weapons.

Safe Suggestions:

SentrySafe H2300 Fire-Safe Waterproof Chest (.36 cubic feet)
A popular choice for casual safekeeping, this safe is just large enough to hold your passport, birth certificate, social security card, currency, and other small valuables. Costing under $50, it's an inexpensive and easy way to lock up your small valuables without breaking the bank. Safes in this style and size fit easily tucked in a drawer or shelf as well.

SentrySafe DS3410 Black Fire-Safe (1.2 cubic feet)
With over a cubic feet of storage space, this safe stores quite a lot more valuables, and requires some dedicated space for it as well. The safe fits standard and A-4 size papers, folders and binders so it's great for keeping your vital documents and records that you don't feel safe enough to stick in just a regular file cabinet in your home office. With a 1 hour rating at 1700°F, this baby will keep your stuff safe while the fire fighters hose down your home.

WES2113-DF Fire Resistant Electronic Wall Safe (.75 cubic feet)
Perfectly sized to fit in between 16-inch studs, wall safes can bolt into your walls and hide within your home, making it more difficult to steal. With a digital electronic locking system it provides great protection with its 3/16" solid steel door. This model is fire resistant as well, but the main draw is that for $300 it becomes an integrated part of your house. Thieves won't exactly be walking out the door with this one, and you'll be comforted in knowing your valuables are safely locked down in your home.

SentrySafe G1459E 14-Gun Electronic Lock Safe
Bring out the big guns, and put 'em right back into this 182 pound behemoth. This model features a 14-gun capacity (that's a lot of guns!) and an electronic lock. The hinges are concealed and the exterior is hardened steel plate to protect from drill attacks. The separate compartment shelf on the top lets your valuable documents join in the safety along with your massive gun collection.