(BPT) - In the first three months of 2026 alone, there were 26 disaster declarations in the U.S. — higher than the five-year average. This includes emergencies like fires, severe storms and floods, all of which put your home and valuables at risk. Even if you don't think you live in a fire-prone area, shifting weather patterns nationwide, like rising temperatures and drought conditions, are increasing fire risk in unexpected regions including the Midwest, South and Southeast.
The good news is, you can take proactive steps to protect the valuables in your home, including critical documents and priceless family heirlooms that could easily be destroyed by fire or flooding. With over a century of experience in protection and security, Master Lock recommends these simple tips to stay one step ahead in preparing for natural disasters or house fires.
Prepare an emergency kit "go bag"
Be prepared for potential disaster evacuation by ensuring everyone in your household has an emergency kit or "go bag" containing necessities ready to go at a moment's notice. While the contents of each individual's bag may vary, consider items that are necessary and may be hard to get on the road. Include things like water, protein bars, prescription medications, cash, a first aid kit, electronic device chargers and warm clothing.
In an emergency evacuation, important paperwork and digital records may need to travel with you at a moment's notice. For compact portable protection, the SentrySafe Fire File 1170 can be quickly stashed in your vehicle. This model has UL Classified fire protection to keep your most important documents safe for up to 30 minutes at 1550° F. It features a privacy key lock and carrying handle, offering a convenient solution for securing passports and other essential paperwork at home or on the go.
For absolute assurance, Master Lock and SentrySafe stand behind their products with a limited lifetime warranty.
Invest in a fireproof safe
To protect personal records and valuables in your home, consider the unparalleled protection and security of a Master Lock or SentrySafe Fireproof + Waterproof Safe. This is the ideal place to safely store important items including passports, wedding and birth certificates, tax filings, precious family photos and heirlooms.
Made from high-grade steel and tested for performance, Master Lock's Premium 2-Hour Fire and Water Safes are designed to endure and withstand extremes like impact from falling through a burning structure, providing 2-hour fire resistance in high temperatures and shielding against water for up to 24 hours.
Waterproofing is also crucial in the event of fire. As firefighters need anywhere from hundreds to thousands of gallons of water to extinguish fires this factor can also be damaging to documents, photos and other special items.
Consider the following fireproof and waterproof storage solutions to protect important documents and valuables at home:
SentrySafe Extra Large Steel Fireproof Waterproof Safe with Digital Keypad: If you need a larger fireproof home safe, this model offers an interior capacity of 2 cubic feet. It also combines UL-classified fire resistance to withstand fire for one hour at 1,700°F and ETL-verified water protection to safeguard valuables in up to 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours. Built with 6 large steel bolts, a pry-resistant hinge bar and programmable digital lock with secondary key access, this model features a deep organizer, door pocket and interior lighting for enhanced visibility and organization. A 1.23 cubic foot version is also available, offering many of the same fire, water and theft protection features in a slightly more compact format.
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe with Dial Combination: For those who prefer a traditional dial combination safe over a digital keypad, this compact model delivers similar fire, water and theft protection features, ideal for smaller spaces.
Make a proactive inventory of valuables
In the event that an insurance claim is needed, it's recommended to create a detailed inventory of your most valuable possessions. Use your phone to make a video or take pictures of the items, along with listing their value, when and where they were obtained, and any other vital information. Then as a final protection step, store these valuables in your fireproof + waterproof safe as well.
As natural disasters continue to increase in frequency and severity across the country, being prepared brings confidence when facing emergencies like fires and floods. From safeguarding critical documents to protecting irreplaceable belongings, having the right emergency preparedness plan and storage solutions in place is essential during the unexpected. Discover more protection solutions at Masterlock.com and SentrySafe.com.
