Are you ready to bug out when disaster strikes? Do you have food, water, shelter gear, and all the rest? I hope so, but have you given any thought to dealing with the aftermath of a crisis? What happens when life has to try to go back to normal or when you have to deal with all of the usual interactions concerning work, bills, legal agreements, and more?
It’s easy to get ready physically for tough times, but I know too many preppers who fail to prepare administratively. That’s why you need a bug-out binder.
A bug-out binder is a weatherized document case or flash drive that contains all of the essential paperwork that makes life go in the modern era. From IDs to diplomas, mortgages to medical information, there is a whole lot you’ll want to include.
To help you do the job thoroughly and efficiently, I’m bringing you a list of 48 bug-out binder essentials that you can’t forget. We will get right into it below…
Protect Your Bug-Out Binder!
Really quick, before we get to the list proper, I must impress upon you how crucial it is that you protect your bug-out binder like the crown jewel it is. If this info were to fall into the wrong hands, you are giving someone, quite literally, the keys to your entire life.
Loss or theft is the worst possible outcome. This can complicate things because you want your bug-out binder to be either packed or quickly accessible when it’s time to go, but at the same time secured so that it won’t go missing…
How you should best accomplish this is up to you: I know some folks who keep their binder inside their bug-out pack or in a hidden stash that’s ready to go but unlikely to be discovered by thieves.
Others go electronic, keeping scans of documents and photos on a flash drive with the contents encrypted and password protected.
Both are viable approaches, just think it through. Now, let’s get on to the documents you need to include…
Personal Identification
Driver’s License / State ID, copies
Your driver’s license or state-issued ID should be in your wallet and on your person at all times, even while bugging out. Nonetheless, keep good copies inside your binder.
Military ID, copy, if applicable
If you are a current or former member of the military, that ID should likewise be on your person, but make sure there’s a clear copy in the binder.
Passports
You might not have any need of your passport during a crisis situation, but then again, you never know.
Depending on where you live in your plan, you might want to keep the passport on you or keep it in your bug-out binder for safekeeping when not in use so it isn’t forgotten.
Social Security Cards
Argument rages over whether or not you should carry around your social security card at all times, but if you don’t, it should be in the binder so it doesn’t get left behind and lost or destroyed.
Birth Certificates
Birth certificates are crucially important documents that are difficult to replace if lost or destroyed. They should be carried along with all other critical docs when bugging out. If you have them stored elsewhere, like a safe deposit box, keep copies in the binder instead.
Current Profile Photos of All Family Members
You’ve got all of these IDs already stored, so what do you need family photos for? It isn’t just for sentimental reasons, though that is a good thing: you want front and profile pics on both sides for all family members in case someone gets separated or goes missing.
Keep these photos current, especially for kids since they grow so quickly. Also, take photos of scars, tattoos, and other identifying marks or characteristics.
Concealed Weapon Permits, copies
If you have a concealed weapon permit, concealed handgun license, or any other officially issued ID from your state, you’ll definitely want that in your wallet and in your pocket, but a copy should be kept in your binder.
Financials
Bank Account Numbers and Login Info
This is a biggie. You might have your bank account number memorized backward and forwards, but stress and injury have a way of making people forget. Keep all account numbers for checking and savings accounts and login info on hand…
Bank Contact Info
Have contact info for your bank stored in your logs. This should be for your local branches, branches and neighboring towns and states near your likely bug-out locations, and the corporate offices. Be sure to get the names of your local branch president and account manager, too.
Copies of Stocks, Bonds, Etc.
Stocks, bonds, and other assets might be safe from actual destruction even though you are sent fleeing, but you’ll need hard copies of the proof that you own them.
Copies of All Credit / Debit Cards
Once again, credit and debit cards should be in your wallet and on your body during any sort of crisis situation. Nonetheless, keep copies of all relevant info off of them in your bug-out binder. Don’t forget that little security code, too, and the expiration date.
Login Info for Online Payment and Currency Apps
It’s hard to do business these days without at least one online payment processor or currency app. PayPal, Wise, Payoneer, Cash App, Zelle, and many more; whichever one you have or however many, keep all login info in your file.
Property Documents and Proof of Ownership
Mortgage Info
If you own your home, or are working toward owning your home, make sure you have all of your mortgage information and paperwork stored safe and sound.
Chances are you’ll be needing it in the aftermath of whatever event has caused this mess in the first place!
Leases, if applicable
If you lease any sort of property for any purpose, keep a copy of the relevant lease agreements, payment history, and so forth.
Rental Agreement
If you rent a home, apartment, condo, or any other residential property, you’ll want that rental agreement close at hand, too. The fine print concerning acts of God and force majeure will no doubt become important in the very near future, sad to say!
Vehicle Titles
Put a copy or original of each vehicle title inside your binder, and depending on your state, don’t forget ones for watercraft, aircraft, and so forth.
Real Estate Titles / Deeds
Likewise for real estate, whether it is vacant land or an improved parcel, ensure you have all the relevant info for each of your properties and all pertinent titles or deeds.
Copies of All Insurance Policies
Is your home insured? I trust your vehicles and house are also. Do you have a renter’s policy? Keep all of that stuff in the binder.
Insurer and Ins. Agent Contact Info
Beyond the policies themselves, keep on hand the contact info of your insurer and your personal insurance agent. Note that this includes the numbers to the local office, nearby offices, and the corporate number.
Photos of Insured Property
You’ve got to document all personal property that is insured, and do so extensively. Cars, home, personal possessions, all of it. Just like your family photos, keep these current. I update mine no later than once a year.
Firearm Serial Numbers
If you own guns, an inventory sheet containing the make, model, caliber, and serial number is a must-have. Not only are guns valuable, but you need to know this info for liability and reporting reasons in case they get lost or stolen.
Any Other Contracts
Any other contracts whatsoever you are a party to that are in force will still, in all likelihood, remain enforceable during and after the SHTF event. Keep copies of all of them in your binder along with any other relevant riders or addendums.
Health and Medical Records
All Personal and Family Medical Records
These can be a pain to get and collate, but it must be done. Medical records for every member of your family must be included in your bug-out binder, and they might be very important indeed if medical professionals need to render aid in a crisis…
List of Known Drug / Food / Substance Allergies
Similarly, a separate but more easily accessible reference for your family members containing data for all known drug, food, and other substance allergies is a great thing to have if you need care in an austere environment.
Required Prescription Medications
Another list containing all prescription medication, however important it is, is a must-have.
Health Insurance Cards, copies
Once again, these cards should be in your wallet and on your person at all times. I also like to weatherize mine. In any case, include copies, front and back, of each in your binder.
Family Blood Type Info
Just what it says.
Treatment Records from Hospital / Institutional Care, if applicable
If you or anyone in your family has recently undergone surgery or any other kind of institutional care, make sure you get all relevant treatment records.
Vaccination Records
Just what it says. Any and all relevant vaccinations for various communicable diseases should be documented and provable.
Doctor and Treatment Specialist Contact Info
The names and contact info of family doctors and surgeons, if relevant.
Career, Work, and Education
Diplomas
Family members that have completed courses of higher education, including high school, should have copies of their diplomas included in the file.
Certificates of Training
Any relevant certificates of training that are pertinent to employment or professional qualification should also be kept in your mind, or copies kept at the least.
DD-214, if Applicable
If you or another member of the family have completed service or a career in the military, that DD-214 is a must-have.
Workplace Credentials, if Applicable
Not always necessary under the circumstances, but good to have regardless. If you have a work-issued ID or other facility or building credentials, keep a copy of them in your binder if you don’t keep them on your person habitually.
Contact Info for Employer / Supervisor
Even if you know your work or office line by heart, keep all potentially needed phone numbers, emails, and company intranet addresses of your employer and immediate supervisor on hand.
Estate and Legal
Will and Testament, copies
It’s terrible to think about, but it’s possible that you or someone else you love might not survive the events at hand, and for any number of reasons.
A properly prepared, completed, and notarized will and testament is mandatory for preventing the nightmare of probate in such a case. Discuss this eventuality with your family attorney, too.
Marriage Certificates
Just what it says. The rings on your fingers aren’t enough in the eyes of the law.
Divorce Certificates
Same, same. Sadly, if you are divorced, you’ll want to include the divorce paperwork in the binder…
Child Custody Paperwork
If you have legally undergone child custody proceedings, for or against you and for whatever reason, you must keep that stuff on hand.
Disability Judgments and Records
If you or a loved one have been adjudicated disabled, physically or mentally, that paperwork is critically important for entitlements and sometimes special aid in times of disaster.
Keep it all in the binder, along with the contact info for any personnel that might have been involved.
Family Attorney Contact Info
Your family attorney is an important part of your team when it comes to preparing for disasters. Keep all of their known methods of contact in your file and close at hand.
Pet Info
Current Photos of Pet
Our pets are members of the family too, and just like our human family members, you should take front, side, top, and rear pictures of your pet. Keep these current!
Microchip Info
If your dog or cat has been microchipped, and they really, really should be, keep that microchip info updated and a hard copy in your binder.
Purchase Records
Wherever you got your pet, assuming you didn’t just take in a stray you found wandering, keep the receipt and purchase paperwork.
Pet Vaccination Records and Tag Number
Rabies and distemper vaccines are a must for dogs, and different animals need different vaccines. If they aren’t vaccinated, they might be put down if taken in by a pound or shelter.
Vet Contact Info
The contact info for your family vet.
Other
Contact Info for All Family and Friends
Even in this era of synchronized smart technology, a paper or electronic database of all contact info for your family members and friends can save the day in times of trouble. Phone numbers, emails, addresses, everything.
Important Social and Email Account Logins
In a similar vein, often our phones or internet browsers manage all of our login info so we don’t even have to think to access emails, social media accounts, password managers, and more.
Losing access to these master key programs could prove intensely frustrating if you are separated from your usual devices.
Assemble a database yourself and keep it in your binder so you know you can access everything you might possibly need to from wherever you happen.
Last but not least, you can go ahead and download a PDF with all of the items mentioned above right here.
Tom Marlowe practically grew up with a gun in his hand, and has held all kinds of jobs in the gun industry: range safety, sales, instruction and consulting, Tom has the experience to help civilian shooters figure out what will work best for them.