How-to
Going paperless at home, what to scan and where to keep it
Scan the papers your household would need after a disaster, store the files on a password-protected drive, and keep the originals in a fireproof box.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published June 30, 2026 · 2 min read
At a glance
- Scan
- IDs, policies, titles, tax returns, medical papers
- Store
- A password-protected drive in a fireproof box
- Back up
- A second copy somewhere else
- Keep
- The paper originals in the box
After a disaster, a household needs copies of its key papers, kept on paper and electronically in safe places.
What you need
- A phone with a scanning app, or a scanner
- A removable flash drive or external hard drive
- A fireproof and waterproof box or safe
Steps
- 1
Gather the papers by group
Sort them into household identification, financial and legal documentation, and medical information. Scan one group at a time.
30 min
- 2
Scan the IDs
Copy the front and back of a driver's license or other photo ID. For a passport, copy the first two pages. Copy the cards you carry in a wallet too, such as an insurance card.
10 min
- 3
Photograph the rooms too
Take photos or a video of the rooms in your home and your valuable belongings, and keep them with the copies of your documents.
15 min
- 4
Save the files to a protected drive
Store electronic copies in a password-protected format on a removable flash drive or external hard drive. A secure offsite storage service is another option.
10 min
- 5
Leave the passwords out
Don't keep written lists of passwords or PINs with the paper or electronic copies. If you keep a list anyway, write a hint word in place of each actual password.
1 min
- 6
Box the drive and the originals
Keep the drive in your fireproof and waterproof box or safe. The paper can go in that box, a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted friend or relative.
5 min
- 7
Back it up
Back up the important information on your computer and phone, so you can recover it if something happens.
10 min
- 8
Open one file
Plug the drive into a computer, enter the password and open the scan of the photo ID. Both sides should be readable.
2 min
Scan the household's important papers
- Gather the IDs, insurance policies, titles and tax returns
- Make a copy of the front and back of each photo ID
- Save the scans to a password-protected drive
- Put the drive and the paper originals in a fireproof box
- Back up the scans to a second place
Keep the files current
Scan the new paper as soon as something changes. That includes a new insurance provider, a move, a home purchase or a new lease, a bank account opened or closed, a marriage or divorce, and a new child. Between those changes, pick a date you'll remember to look the files over, such as tax time, your birthday or the start of a new year.
Papers you don't have
If you don't have an original of a document, contact the company or agency that issued it for a copy. For how long each paper is worth keeping, see Which papers to keep, and for how long.
An annotated example
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (Ready.gov). Emergency financial first aid kit (2019)
- Federal Trade Commission. Five things to do to protect yourself online (2022)
