Your online Backpack that is, the service from 37 Signals that lets you oragnize information that you can access from any computer with a web browser. And, that's the key for families in an emergency.
Certainly hundreds of thousands of individuals and families evacuated during the 2005 U.S. hurricane season. The fortunate stayed away from their homes for a few days, others were stranded for months and even permanently displaced by the destruction of their homes.
In my article on Preparing for Family Emergency Evacuation, I mentioned that I worked with a number of families after Hurricane Katrina. The common denominator for all was the need for information and documentation - bank accounts, insurance policies, phone numbers, prescriptions and medical records are just a few examples.
In fact, there are many situations in which you might need access to important information when you are away from home - a sick child on vacation, a financial emergency while on a business trip, or simply an account number from your home while you are at work. Since you're likely to find a computer with a web browser in many settings, you can literally have nothing and yet have access to the essentials of your life through your Backpack on the Web.
Security for this type of personal information is a major concern. For me, it makes more sense to keep it on a private web site than to physically carry it with me or have copies at multiple locations. New Backpack pages default to Private, but you should be cautious if you choose a web solution for your personal information. 37 Signals makes it clear that the security of your Backpack is your responsibility.
What I love most about Backpack is its simplicity. Sign up is easy. I'm using a free account right now, but I intend to upgrade to take advantage of file and image storage and secure content. It's incredibly useful for coordinating work, home, and travel, so I'll use it every day.
But, in case I ever need it, I also have the account numbers and passwords and web addresses I need to manage my life from any location, Skype and cell numbers and email addresses for all of my family and friends, scanned copies of important family documents, and photos of my family, home, and possessions. That sounds like a lot, but it's so simple and it makes me feel empowered to cope with a family emergency.
