one of the very reasons I carry a thumbdrive is important documents. I've scanned all my important documents carry them on my thumb drive. SS card, passport, driver license, insurance papers, etc.

Sure, someone could rob me and now have access to my stuff, but I would definitely be screwed if I lost all of that in say an earthquake, flood, fire, tornado. etc. And, by the way, in a disaster, short of carrying all that stuff with me everywhere I go, I would lose all that stuff anyway. atleast, this way, I have copies of everything on my thumbdrive.