In short: An emergency binder holds copies of the documents and contacts you'd need to prove who you are, reach your insurer and bank, and apply for help after a disaster. The free official option is the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) from FEMA and Operation HOPE, available on Ready.gov. It covers four areas: household identification, financial and legal documents, medical information, and household contacts. Store paper and electronic copies safely, and don't keep password lists in it.
Key facts
- The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) is a free joint publication from Operation HOPE and FEMA, downloadable from Ready.gov in several languages and a fillable version. Source
- The EFFAK's checklists cover household identification, financial and legal documentation, medical information, and household contacts. Source
- The EFFAK suggests storing paper copies in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe, a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted friend or relative. Source
- The EFFAK does not recommend keeping written password, PIN or security-question lists with the paper or electronic copies of your kit. Source
- Ready.gov advises keeping a small amount of cash at home in a safe place, mostly in small bills, because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster. Source
Want this written down for your home? Household Emergency Plan — US edition — printable, $7.99.
After a fire, flood or hurricane, the hardest part is often not the damage itself but proving who you are, what you own and who insures it. An emergency binder solves that ahead of time: one place holding copies of your household's documents, accounts, medical details and contacts. If the news has you thinking about preparedness, this is one of the calmest, most useful jobs you can do on a quiet evening. Prepared, not panicked.
What is the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK)?
The official free option is the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), a joint publication from Operation HOPE and FEMA. Ready.gov describes it as a toolkit for organizing your financial, medical and household information before a disaster, so insurance policies, bank details, records and contacts are in one place and you can recover faster.
- Free to download from Ready.gov.
- Versions: English, English fillable forms, English large print, Spanish, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese.
- Four checklist areas: household identification, financial and legal documentation, medical information, and household contacts (FEMA P-1075).
The EFFAK's own four steps are a good way to run the whole job:
- Assess and compile: gather documents and contacts, and fill in and date the forms.
- Review: check that insurance and paperwork are accurate and current.
- Safeguard: store paper and electronic copies in safe locations.
- Update: revisit it regularly, especially after major life changes. It suggests tax time as one review point.
What to put in an emergency binder: document checklist
This list follows the EFFAK's checklists and Ready.gov's financial preparedness guidance. Not every item applies to every household.
Household identification
- Driver's licenses and other photo IDs (EFFAK: photocopy front and back)
- Birth certificates, adoption papers and child custody documents
- Marriage license and divorce decree
- Social Security cards
- Passports and Green Cards (EFFAK: copy the first two pages of a passport, or front and back of a Green Card)
- Naturalization documents
- Recent photos of children, and child ID records
- Military ID and discharge record (DD 214)
- Pet ID tags, microchip details, proof of ownership (such as a photo of you with your pet), service animal certification
Financial and legal
- Lease or rental agreement, or mortgage and deed documents
- Home equity and second mortgage details
- Recent utility bills (useful as proof of address)
- Vehicle loan, student loan and credit card account details
- Bank, credit union and prepaid card statements
- Retirement and investment account statements
- Vehicle registration and ownership papers
- Insurance policies: homeowners or renters, auto, life, flood, pet, funeral
- Photos or video of each room and valuable belongings
- Recent pay stubs and records of government benefits
- Previous year's tax returns and property tax statements
- Will or trust, and powers of attorney
Medical
- Doctor, pediatrician and specialist contact details
- Copies of health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid cards, and pharmacy ID
- Immunization records and allergies
- A list of regular medications, and copies of current prescriptions (including glasses)
- Models, serial numbers and suppliers for medical equipment
- Disability documentation
- Living will and medical power of attorney
- Caregiver agency contract
- Veterinarian details and pet vaccination records
Household contacts
- Banks and credit card companies
- Insurance agents
- Doctors and other health professionals
- Service providers, such as utilities
- Employers and your place of worship
- Out-of-area family contact (see our family emergency plan)
Copies or originals?
The EFFAK is built around copies. Its tips repeatedly say to photocopy IDs and keep copies of agreements and statements, and if you don't have an original document, to contact the issuing company or agency to get one.
Where to keep paper copies, according to the EFFAK:
- A fireproof and waterproof box or safe at home
- A bank safe deposit box (it suggests asking your bank or checking state law on who can access the box if the owner dies or is too ill)
- With a trusted friend or relative
It also suggests giving a paper copy in a sealed envelope to a lawyer, financial adviser or trusted family member, with instructions to open it only with your approval or that of someone you've chosen. And it advises filing living wills and advance directives with hospitals and primary care doctors.
Keep originals wherever is safest for you. If you'll need to evacuate quickly, keep your binder or a copy of it where you can grab it with your go bag. Ready.gov's kit list includes copies of important documents saved electronically or in a waterproof container.
Should I keep a digital copy?
Yes, as a backup. Guidance from FEMA and Ready.gov:
- EFFAK: store electronic copies in a password-protected format on a removable flash drive or external hard drive kept in your fireproof and waterproof box or safe, or use a secure offsite storage service.
- Ready.gov: keep important documents on an external drive or in the cloud so they're easy to reach during a disaster, and store copies in a password-protected digital space.
- Photos and video: the EFFAK suggests photographing or filming each room, your valuables and the documents themselves, and keeping those records with your kit.
Privacy: what not to put in it
An emergency binder is a concentrated set of personal details, so treat it like your wallet.
- No passwords. The EFFAK does not recommend keeping written lists of passwords, PINs or security questions with your paper or electronic copies. If you do write something down, it suggests a hint word in place of the actual information.
- Never share passwords or PINs. The EFFAK notes that no legitimate customer service representative will ask for them.
- If it's stolen, the EFFAK says to contact your banks, insurers and similar companies right away to monitor, close or reopen accounts.
- Watch for scams after disasters. Ready.gov points to ftc.gov/complaint for reporting messages from people claiming to be government agents.
Add a little cash
Ready.gov advises keeping a small amount of cash at home in a safe place, mostly in small bills, because ATMs and credit cards may not work during a disaster. The EFFAK suggests keeping it in the same safe place as your kit, based on your household's basic needs for food, gas and day-to-day items.
Keep it current
Put a review date on the front. Update after a move, a new baby, a marriage or divorce, a new car or policy, or a change in medications. Add the date beside each document as you update it, as the EFFAK's checklists do.
For the rest of your planning, see the US preparedness hub and our hurricane preparedness guide.
Limitations
This page is general information, not legal, financial or insurance advice. Rules on documents, safe deposit box access and estate paperwork vary by state; check with the issuing agency or a qualified professional. In an emergency, call 911 and follow instructions from local officials.
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Frequently asked questions
What is an emergency binder?
A folder or binder holding copies of your household's key documents, account details, medical information and contacts, kept somewhere safe so you can grab it or access it after a disaster. FEMA's free Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) is a ready-made set of checklists and forms for building one.
What should I put in an emergency binder?
Copies of IDs, birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards and passports; insurance policies; mortgage or lease documents; bank, credit card and loan details; tax returns, wills and powers of attorney; medical and medication lists; pet records; and a list of key contacts such as doctors, insurers and your bank.
Should I keep originals or copies in my emergency binder?
The EFFAK is built around collecting copies, such as photocopying the front and back of driver's licenses and the first two pages of passports. It suggests storing paper copies in a fireproof and waterproof box or safe, a bank safe deposit box, or with a trusted friend or relative. Keep originals wherever is safest for you.
Can I keep my emergency binder digitally?
Yes. The EFFAK suggests storing electronic copies in a password-protected format on a removable flash drive or external hard drive kept in your fireproof and waterproof box or safe, or using a secure offsite storage service. Ready.gov also mentions the cloud.
Should I write my passwords in my emergency binder?
No. The EFFAK does not recommend keeping written lists of passwords, PINs or security questions with your kit. If you must write something down, it suggests using a hint word instead of the actual information.
Where do I get FEMA's Emergency Financial First Aid Kit?
Download it free from Ready.gov's Emergency Financial First Aid Kit page. It comes in English, a fillable English version, large print, Spanish, Korean, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and Vietnamese.
Sources
- Ready.gov — Emergency Financial First Aid Kit
- FEMA — Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), FEMA P-1075 (PDF)
- Ready.gov — Financial Preparedness
- Ready.gov — Hurricanes
- Ready.gov — Build a Kit