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passport, keep in emergency binder
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Where do you keep all your important documents? Are they all kept in one place? Are they scattered in different locations?

In the event of an emergency evacuation, save valuable time by keeping all your important personal documents in one place: an Emergency Binder.

Consider what happened during Hurricane Katrina. Millions of people had to evacuate their homes, thousands were in emergency shelters. Yet many of them did not have basic ID’s to prove their identity, or verify their health or property insurance.

Not having proper identification will result in delayed or loss of basic assistance. To get replacement documents you often need to have a birth certificate and other vital documents.

man in black jacket and black pants standing beside garbage bags after a disaster

If you need to evacuate, have the necessary documents and personal IDs to get emergency assistance.


Having your important documents in one place will help you to deal with medical and financial emergencies. You may think having digital copies in your phone or USB drive may be the answer. But what if there is no power or your electronic device was damaged? A printed copy is the answer.

These documents should be kept in a water tight bag and kept in a fireproof case. Keep both a printed and digital set of copies.

Documents The Should Be Included In Your Emergency Binder:

  • Social security cards
  • Birth certificates
  • Passports Recent photos of family members
  • Driver’s license
  • Insurance declaration pages
  • Property deeds Vehicle titles/registrations
  • Wills/Power of attorney/Health care proxies
  • Marriage license/divorce decrees
  • Pet immunization records
  • Financial statements (bank, investments, retirement accounts)
  • Emergency contacts: name, address, phone numbers of personal contacts, doctors, attorneys, insurance companies in printed form and keep in a zip lock bag. Do not rely on your electronics to keep this essential information.


Consider investing on a home safe to keep in your home and a fire proof envelope for your emergency bag


Fireproof safe to keep your important personal documents
https://amzn.to/30Cf0xw SentrySafe 1170 Fireproof Box with Key Lock 0.61 Cubic Feet, Black

Fireproof envelope to keep your personal documents safe
https://amzn.to/3E18Zbd Fireproof Document Bags,13.4”x 9.4”Waterproof and Fireproof Money Bag,

Don’t worry if you don’t have all the above documents. Start with what you have available then work on the rest. Just the fact that you are starting to collect your information is a great investment of your personal life.

Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.

What other documents would you include in your emergency bag? Please leave a comment below.

About Post Author

self.reliant.princess

During the day, Ms. Williams is a compliance officer for a major insurance agency in Florida. In her free time she enjoys the great outdoors and share her passion for the adventures life has to offer. She now shares her passion for Emergency Preparedness, making it simple for everyone to start.
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