Computersight -

If you live in an area prone to floods, fires, earth-quakes, or other natural disasters—or on a boat, in a desert, or any place where your media are likely to be exposed to water, dust, and other environmental dangers—you can protect your media collection and personal documents by keeping the most important and irreplaceable portions in a protective container or device. You might also choose to store your most treasured photographic prints and important paper documents this way.

Consider archiving important digital media and documents online, too, if you’re concerned about disasters or theft. Prices for disaster-proof storage start at less than $100. Protective storage devices are available in a variety of fireproof, waterproof, and impact proof models, including the following:

Home safe. A strong, secure box with a combination, keypad, or biometric (i.e., fingerprint- reading) lock. Some safes can be bolted to a floor or wall to protect against theft.

Security chest or box. A box that may not be as secure as a safe for protection against
theft, but offers protection from natural disasters.

Optical disc file safe. A safe or a security box that’s designed specifically to store optical discs.

Laptop safe or case. A container whose dimensions accommodate a laptop computer. Document file safe or chest. A safe or box with an interior designed for storing paper documents and photographic prints.

Waterproof case. A case that will protect your media from water, dust, and impact dam-
age, but isn’t fireproof.

External hard drive. Sentry Safe makes external USB hard drives that meet UL (Under-writers Laboratories) standards for being fireproof and waterproof.