What memories do you need to safeguard as part of a personal disaster preparation plan? What photos or videos do you definitely need to safeguard? This is a screenshot of my parents’ digital album and it’s safely stored for me to pass on to my grandchildren’s grandchildren … and generations beyond.
Let’s develop a personal protection plan.
This post will give you a peace of mind framework for two important reasons:
1 your most meaningful memories will be safe if disaster strikes,
2 you’ll document your home’s exterior, all the contents on the inside, and have those files ready if you need to make insurance claims.
You can store the data permanently so the files are easy to share with family, friends, and insurance adjusters if you ever need one.
Scroll to the end of this post and link to your next step for developing your personal protection plan.
The recent Eaton Fire in Altadena confirmed my mission
I’ve been a photo coach for 30 years (since March 1995) and I’ve always been passionate that families should protect their memories. Your family photos are treasures that are unique to you and your well-being.
During a disaster, the first instinct is to keep them safe.
The fires in Eaton Canyon taught me this lesson twice.
First, in 1993, I had to evacuate with my family. I wrote about it in this post:
Peace of Mind Disaster Preparedness for Family Photos and Much More
Homes were lost and many families had to evacuate but it was minor compared to what happened in January this year.
A few years ago, my husband and I moved from the Pasadena area to our home in La Quinta in the greater Palm Springs area. But my roots are in Pasadena as you can see from these two photos.
Visiting my grandparents’ home on Harriet Street in Altadena was always special, being so close to the mountains.
Our family attended St. Elizabeth church on Lake Avenue at Woodbury. Here I am with my siblings at Easter.
Those are wonderful memories that are safely stored and they’re easy to share with others like my children, grandchildren, and friends.
No one could have predicted what happened on the night of January 7.
A fast-moving fire swept through Pasadena and Altadena starting just after 6 pm on January 7 and burning into the morning of January 8, destroying over 6,000 homes and about 9,400 structures in total. Tragically, 17 people died. It’s called the Eaton Fire because it started in Eaton Canyon.
Many families escaped only to return to homes turned into ashes and many lost their memories because they had to leave in a hurry—photos and videos that can’t be replaced.
At the same time, the Palisades Fire was burning along the coast to Malibu and moving inland into the San Fernando Valley.
The fires confirmed my mission of helping families keep their memories safe for now and future generations to enjoy.
The lesson for all of us
Disaster hits us with little to no warning.
Last year, there were floods in North Carolina and this month families in Oklahoma suffered losses during wind-whipped blazes.
There will be large-scale disasters in the future and small-scale mishaps like broken pipes or break-ins at home.
We don’t have to be victims and lose our treasured memories. Take the steps to prepare now.
You have insurance on homes and there’s also insurance for renters. I can show you something even better to safeguard your photos, videos, and important documents.
I use FOREVER®, the best way I’ve found to protect memories.
Why I’m a photo coach
Family photos have always intrigued me because I’d imagine all the stories taking place. I didn’t just see images of people posing. I wondered who they were and what brought them to that moment.
My goal since 1995 has been helping families journal the stories of their photos, keep them safe, and pass them along to the next generation.
Benefits of safeguarding your memories
Here’s why I use FOREVER® for my personal memories and to help my clients.
Imagine how nice it would be that you always knew where your photos and videos were, and you didn’t have to worry about losing any around the house. Or, If a disaster struck, you knew your photos were safely stored digitally.
Let’s say you’re thinking of a family member and want to share a special time. You can easily email them a file or create a photo book and have it sent to them.
That’s the peace of mind you can have with a personal plan to protect your memories.
- Declutter by bringing all of your old files into one place
- Choose the ones you want to keep
- Digitize them
- Store them permanently
Photos and videos you take on your phone, digital camera, tablet or other device can be uploaded to the same location and placed in digital albums that you create.
Your files can be easily turned into printed photo books, gifts.
You can also use FOREVER® to store files if you’re researching your family history or access a professional genealogist using FOREVER®.
Developing your 5-step personal plan
Let’s think about your personal plan.
Step 1
Document the current condition of your home in case you ever need to make an insurance claim.
Take photos and videos of the outside. If you’re in the country and have acreage for a farm then make sure you get the fencing and all structures.
If you’re in a town or city like Pasadena, take photos of your fencing, garages, and additional dwelling unit (ADU).
On the inside of your house, condo, or apartment, go room by room and make sure all the contents are clear like sofas, beds and mattresses. Document clothing in the closets, shoes, silverware, and any collectibles.
Step 2
Store the files to your FOREVER® account and create a digital album solely for insurance which you can see that I’ve done.
You own your FOREVER® account. The files are guaranteed to be safe for a lifetime plus 100 years with the goal of keeping them safe beyond that time frame, thanks to the FOREVER® Guarantee Fund.
Step 3
Now, for your personal photos and memories. You have hard copies and digital copies.
Bring your older printed photos, videos, and other older media into one place like a clean desktop in an unused part of a room. Choose what to keep and what to toss.
Digitize them using FOREVER®’s digitizing services. The facility is located just outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Step 4
Store your digital images in your FOREVER® account and place them in digital albums.
Step 5
When you take new photos and videos with your smartphone, choose the ones you want to keep by uploading them with the FOREVER® app. Delete the ones you don’t upload to reduce or eliminate your digital clutter.
How can I help you?
Developing a personal plan to protect your memories isn’t hard but you may need help to get started. I’m here to get you on your way. If you need me to check in with you and offer more guidance, I can help with that, too.
Contact me and let’s talk about what’s important to you and where you are right now.
- Do you need help decluttering and digitizing?
- Would you like to know more about permanent storage?
Would you help me out and please take a few minutes to watch this special greeting and do a brief survey to help me understand more of your needs:
Greeting and photo questionnaire
You can also log on to my Events page if you’re interested in learning with others.