Besides yourself, what would be the first thing you think to save if your residence was on fire?

Good plan.

In the event of a fire, you're going to lose electricity, and even though it's pretty easy to get someplace that has electricity when you evacuate, having hard copies of important papers is still crucial.

I lived in Paradise, Calif., for several years. I'd already moved before the big "Camp Fire" in 2018, but I was there during another major fire in...I think it was 2013 or 2012, and our area had to evacuate. I co-owned a liquor/grocery store, so had to scramble to save important documents related to my business as well as my house and myself. I learned a lot from that experience.

Things move a lot quicker with your bank and insurance companies if you have those hard-copies in hand.

I assume your alarm systems have battery back-up, yes?

It does have a battery back up, but only lasts about 4 hours in a power outage. In case of a long term outage due to weather, we have a whole house generator. We still have our original gas generator that we keep for a "what if". In order to run the alarm off of it, we would have had to run an extension cord through the basement out to the generator. I'm still reluctant to get rid of it.

The portable mid-size gas generator w/a 220 outlet was bought the day after Hurricane Ike went through the Ohio Valley in 2008. It was something we always talked about getting, but had put off because of the money until then. Our immediate area was spotty with who did or didn't have power. My road had no power from Sunday at 2 pm until Friday at 5 pm. At night we could look into town about a mile from us & we could see the lights from the gas station.

Another learning experience and what-if or would you do moments.
 

For me it used to be my cats, but since I don't have any pets at the moment, I was thinking about this. I have some valuable items you wouldn't think to look at them, but how to choose? I guess it would be where the fire started and what I could grab quickly.
My dog.
 
I have no pets anymore. If I had, they would be the first thing out.

Other than that, it would be my list of 194 passwords; debit card, then car keys. Everything else I could live without for a while.
 


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