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Emergency Car Essentials

Emergencies can come in different sizes and shapes.  Especially in cars and with children.  An emergency can be anything from being stuck without a clean diaper to way worse.  Therefore, I have made a list of 31 essentials to keep in your car in case of an emergency, and I will add to it as I think of more.  

This post may contain affiliate links.  This means, I may receive a small commission, AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU, if you make a purchase through my link.  Read full disclosure HERE.

  1. First aid kit
  2. Jumper cables 
  3. Insurance card
  4. Pen
  5. Notepad
  6. Phone charger
  7. Wipes
  8. Diapers (if you have a baby)
  9. Screwdrivers
  10. Tissues
  11. Paper towels
  12. Bottled water
Emergency backpack equipment with first aid kit organized on the table

13. Trash can

14. Walmart bags

15. Blanket

16. Snacks (ones that won’t melt)

17. Hand sanitizer 

18. Sunscreen 

19. Some cash for emergencies 

20.Extra shoes or flip flops

21.Flashlight

22.Umbrella 

Young explorer with flashlight in the woods

23. Hairbrush 

24. Window scraper

25. Hair ties

26. Female products 

27. Tire pressure gauge 

28. Seat belt cutter

29. Glass breaker

30. Flair

31. Jacket

Sport jacket for clothing
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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.

car window smashed by hail

This post may contain affiliate links.  This means, I may receive a small commission, AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU, if you make a purchase through my link.  Read full disclosure HERE.

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 …

  1. In case of fire
  2. In case of flood
  3. In case of tornado 
  4. In case you lose your phone
  5. In case you lose your wallet or purse
house fire

What Should An Emergency Binder Include?

  1. Important addresses and phone numbers 
  2. List of all bills that are paid monthly (and when)- and phone # to contact utilities in case of emergencies
  3. List of important passwords (unless you have them saved in a web browser)
  4. 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)
  5. List of family members and their info- allergies, heights, weights, medications, etc…
  6. Important information – Drs info, insurance info, bank info, etc…
  7. Emergency contacts
  8. 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.