The Emergency Binder: Stay Organized and Prepared in Crisis
Emergency binder
I lived in OKC while in college and during my first 2 years of teaching. During this time, we had MANY tornado watches and warnings (I still don’t really know the difference).
I was standing on my porch during one storm, and watched as the hail pounded my brand new car. The hail left dents and dings all over, and also broke out my back window leaving shards of glass all over my back seat.
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I am writing at the end of 2024. This week alone, I have seen reports of home leveling tornadoes in Oklahoma, and evacuation worthy flooding in Missouri. Earlier this year in the US, we had devastating hurricanes and wildfires.
The one thing these events all have in common is that- if the unthinkable happens- we may only have minutes to grab what we need and get to safety.
For this reason, I would like to introduce you to the idea of the Emergency Binder.
What is an Emergency Binder?
An emergency binder is, as you might guess by the name, a binder that you prepare ahead of time to assist you in case of an emergency.
Now, an emergency binder is different from an End of Life Binder (look for a post on this in the future), even though you could technically combine the two into one binder.
Why You Need An Emergency Binder
There are many reasons you might need an emergency binder. Here is a short list …
- In case of fire
- In case of flood
- In case of tornado
- In case you lose your phone
- In case you lose your wallet or purse
What Should An Emergency Binder Include?
- Important addresses and phone numbers
- List of all bills that are paid monthly (and when)- and phone # to contact utilities in case of emergencies
- List of important passwords (unless you have them saved in a web browser)
- Copies of front and back of Driver’s licenses, birth certificates, marriage license, divorce papers, credit cards, insurance cards, etc… (in case your wallet is stolen)
- List of family members and their info- allergies, heights, weights, medications, etc…
- Important information – Drs info, insurance info, bank info, etc…
- Emergency contacts
- Babysitter forms
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” -Benjamin Franklin
Where to Keep Emergency Binder?
If you follow my steps and include everything recommended- it would be recommended to keep it in a safe place.
I recommend keeping your Emergency and End of Life Binders in a fire and waterproof safe.
Conclusion
You never know when the unthinkable will happen. While it is impossible to prepare for everything, it is possible to be prepared for this. That’s why I recommend getting your emergency binder ready today.
