During a hurricane, you want your loved ones to be safe, your home to be protected and your job to be uninterrupted. If you utilize a home office, your routine may be more at risk to interruption if you don’t have an adequate back up plan in place. The most important advice during hurricane season is to plan ahead. Use our list of home office tips below to ensure your home office continuity during an emergency.
Keep a List of Contacts
Keep an electronic and hard copy contact list of co-workers, vendors and clients. This will allow you to stay in touch with them and keep your business running smoothly.
Back Up Critical Data
This is one of the most important tips. You must start backing up critical data to an offsite location as soon as possible. One of the best options is to store your backups in the cloud. Implementing cloud backups can take some time to plan, store and test.
You may also want to cloud your phone system. There are several virtual phone system options available. When your office phones go down, the phones can be auto-routed to your cell.
Plan for Loss of Electricity
Generator
Consider purchasing a generator. While they are costly, this is a reliable way to keep your office running. Just make sure you read the instructions carefully and purchase the gasoline before the storm starts.
Internet
If you lose electricity, how will you access the internet?If you don’t have a generator, know where you can access free wifi. Is there a local library or coffee shop you can safety go to? If you don’t want to leave your home office, your phone service most likely offers wifi capabilities. Check with your service provider. It’s important to make sure you have a plan in place.
Back Up
Purchase a car charger to charge your electronics in your car if you need to. Consider purchasing back-up batteries for your electronics, especially your laptop.
Want to learn more about storm preparedness? Read our additional storm preparedness tips here.
