What is it? A bug-out-binder or survival binder is a binder that consists of all of your important documents and emergency information. In an emergency situation it is ready to grab and go, no rummaging through files when you should already be on the road.
What do you need to start?
- A binder large enough to contain all of the documents
- Plastic pages to keep your info safe from moisture
- Page dividers for organization
- USB flashdrive or External Hard Drive as a backup for your digital info
- Copies of all your important documents to include in the binder
What documents should be included?
- birth certificates for each family member
- marriage certificate
- insurance documents
- a current family photo
- photos of your home for insurance purposes
- a copy of your will
- passports/ licenses
- family medical information/records
- bank documents/records/cards
- prescriptions
- contacts (easy to forget phone numbers these days with the electronic devices remembering for us)
- social security cards
- stock certificates
- business documents
- education documents
- tax records
- utilities information
Links
Survival Reference Binder
You won't always be able to turn on your phone and google search the answers. This resource guide is a hard copy how to guide. It should include things that would be handy in a dire situation that will help you to survive. Ie: DIY, Recipes, Instructions, etc.
Info to include as a starter: (found at http://thesurvivalmom.com/preparedness-essential2-the-survival-mom-binder/)
- Water: purification methods, sources of water containers, etc.
- Food: food storage temperature chart, records of my long-term storage foods, recipes, edible wild plants,
- Medical: age/weight chart for medications, medicinal herbs and plants, first aid instructions, natural remedies
- Gardening: what to plant in my zone, directions for sprouting
- Preserving Foods: canning instructions, food dehydration directions
- Alternative Energy Sources: directions for making a solar still and a solar phone charger
- Evacuation: maps showing various routes out of our metropolitan area, a copy of our Family Evacuation Plan, a checklist of my Vehicle 72 Hour Kit
- Communication: directions for using our shortwave radio, When Communication=Survival
- To Do List: books to buy, things to research
- Miscellaneous: dosage chart for potassium iodide tablets!
A few more I can add:
- Food- Storage and Preservation Techniques, Info about hunting regulations in your area
- Outdoor Survival- Shelter building, fire building, cooking outdoors, etc.
- Gardening- composting, when to plant and harvest, etc.
Dear Reader, what would you add : (feel free to comment or send me an email and I'll add it in)