Build an Emergency Binder

I'm in the middle of building an Emergency Binder.

Basically, it's a central hub of information at your fingertips.

When we lived in East Texas, hurricanes were our most common emergencies. The nice thing (if I can call it that) is that you usually have a couple of weeks to prepare for a hurricane. The weather people are very thorough about tracking those things. The only thing you have to worry about is intensity.

In North Texas, we think about tornadoes, occasional flooding, and ice storms that knock out power once every ten years. 

In the past, I've usually relied on a plastic sheet protector that I taped shut once I've slipped in a page full of pertinent information in case of disaster.

As we've gotten older and family and friends are further away, I realized I needed something more substantial.  

A binder with info on you and your family (including pets) is a sound, practical move in case of emergencies--especially if you do have to leave your home.

Even if you shelter in place, you may need to access information immediately if your home gets damaged, pets run away, or someone gets hurt. You need phone numbers, credit cards, cash, and insurance IDs to get you back on the road to recovery. 

Your binder becomes your hub. All your documentation and contact information is in one safe place. 

Back during Hurricane Rita, it was an incredible feat of multi tasking to find phone numbers, insurance, and cash while there was debris everywhere. Phones didn't work for a while. Luckily Greg was able to see the insurance agent at her office and show his ID to get the paperwork started.

With no power, there were no cash registers working. All transactions were in cash. Store employees had to lead you into the store one at a time with a flashlight so you could buy whatever was left.

With no power, gas stations were closed. After the hurricane, Greg went back to the house first and we packed a cargo carrier to the back of his truck and loaded it with filled gas containers. This was not our first rodeo. We knew what to expect. 

But, when we were getting him ready to make the trek back to the house, we could not find a gas can anywhere for a hundred miles and we were 300 miles from ground zero. A friend hooked us up with her church who not only provided us with gas cans, but with gas too. They would not take our money. 

All this back story is to impress upon you that in cases of emergency you really, really need to get your ducks in a row. When something drastic happens, you may not get the chance to look for your valuables and important documentation.

Here, in tornado alley, you might have mere minutes to find shelter. Take the kids, the pets, the spouse, and binder with you into your windowless room. 

To that end, I'm compiling a list of documents and cash to keep in the binder. Your list could be different, but maybe my list will get you started. 

My binder will be kept in our gun safe. There are binders, listed below, that are fire and water proof that you can look into if you don't have a secure location for your binder. If you want to see a broader selection of binders, click this link.

A good binder should be zippered at least so nothing falls out of it. Pockets are useful for smaller things like cash. Some binders come with locks, which are handy if you travel, but if you stay put, I would go with non locking binders. You'll be rattled enough without having to remember the lock code.

Documentation: Some information may be photocopies, such as drivers licenses and credit cards. It's always handy to photocopy credit cards on the off chance yours gets stolen during a non emergency moment. This way you can report the number to the credit card company.

One last tip: Avoid using the office copier from work. Many commercial copiers keep a memory backup of anything that was photocopied on it. That's not the kind of information you want floating around.

What to keep in your information hub, aka, Emergency Binder

This will be for every person living in your house. 

• Cash   I would keep (in small bills) how ever much you'll think you'll need to survive a week without power.
  
  
• Drivers licenses  (These will be photocopies.)
  
  
• Medication lists  (Include dosage and dose times in case someone else has to administer the drug to that person.) 
  
  
• Allergy lists (Greg is allergic to penicillin. This can be serious if he's incapacitated and I'm not there to warn medical personnel.) 
  
  
• Pet Information: List Breed, Age, Vaccination records, and any Medications they're on. Include your vet's office and emergency number
  
  
• Social Security cards
  
  
• Medical or Medicare insurance cards (photocopies)
  
  
• Marriage License
  
  
• Birth Certificates
  
  
• Passports 
  
  
• House Insurance
  
  
• Car Insurance 
  
  
• Life Insurance
  
  
• Car Titles 
  
  
• Wills
  
  
• Living Will documents
  
  
• Bank Account Numbers 
  
  
• Phone numbers for medical personnel, such as doctors veterinarians, and dentists. Include emergency numbers if available. Also add the non emergency numbers for police and fire departments.
  
  
• Contact Information  When we were young, we could rattle off a dozen different phone numbers for friends. Today, we rely on cell phones. What happens if your cell is dead and you need to call a family member? List anyone who's important to you on that contact list with phone number and email addresses. 
  
  
• Other documents could also include: military records, adoption papers, divorce papers, passports, brokerage accounts, contact info for kids' schools, immigration records

It seems like a lot of information, and it is. Is it any wonder our private info is constantly being breached.

I hope this is helpful to you. Don't let it overwhelm you. Getting a binder is your first step. Fill it with all the important documents so you don't have to hunt for them here and there. Next, type up the various lists such as medication and contact lists.  Keep a digital record of it too as a back up. 

If you tackle it bit by bit, it will all come together in the end.

Below are a couple of binders that are more secure than the average. The one above is also a clickable link to Amazon. 

Did I miss anything? What else would you add to your emergency binder? 

 

 

 

 

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