| I'm a recent Hurricane Rita evacuee and survived | | | | equipment. |
| the evacuation and the ensuing hurricane. Running | | | | 5. Primary paper files for your clients/business. I |
| from a hurricane isn't something I've ever had to | | | | have 2 sets of files -- ones for the immediate |
| do before, nor is it something I'd ever like to do | | | | short-term that I use frequently and my lateral |
| again. However, as a solo business owner, I'm | | | | file drawer files that are primarily reference files. I |
| quite thankful that I have a virtual business. The | | | | grabbed the contents of the two drawers of my |
| fact that I'm virtual and can operate from | | | | 2-drawer file cabinet (which hold my immediate |
| anywhere that there's electricity and phone | | | | short-term files), all of which fit into one small |
| service was of great help to me in this disaster | | | | UHaul box. |
| and helped me reopen my business a scant 4 | | | | 6. A backup telephone plan. I wasn't sure what I |
| days after the landfall of Hurricane Rita. | | | | was going to do for phone service for my |
| As a solopreneur, what can you do to make your | | | | business, as all of my clients are scattered across |
| business disaster-proof? It seems that we have | | | | the US and in Canada. Just to be safe, I upgraded |
| an increasing number of hurricanes making landfall | | | | my cell phone plan, and had a prepaid calling card |
| in the coastal states, and add to that an increased | | | | (purchased an AT&T calling card at Sam's, at |
| number of other types of natural disasters like | | | | my disposal if I needed it. As luck would have it, |
| tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, mud slides, ice | | | | my hotel offered an unlimited Internet access |
| storms, blizzards, etc. makes me think that there | | | | long distance plan for an additional $1.88 per day, |
| is no ideal location in which to operate a business. | | | | so I happily signed up for that, saving myself a |
| Now accepting that natural disasters are here to | | | | fortune in phone calls and Internet service fees. |
| stay, here's what I learned from my hurricane | | | | 7. A backup Internet access plan. Since power |
| evacuation that helped me get my business back | | | | restoration to my home was estimated at 2-8 |
| up and running quickly: | | | | weeks, I had to find temporary lodgings. I looked |
| 1. Know the location of your vital papers. You | | | | for a hotel that offered high speed Internet |
| should be able to quickly put into a folder the | | | | access and was able to use their system for my |
| following for you and your family: your marriage | | | | Internet access. However, once I found the hotel, |
| license, birth certificate, social security card, | | | | I also called the tech support of my DSL ISP and |
| driver's license or state ID card, car title | | | | found the local dial-up numbers for the area in |
| mortgage info and insurance contact info, house | | | | which the hotel is located. I never had to use the |
| deed/mortgage info and insurance contact info, | | | | dial-up service, but it was good info to have. If |
| employee ID card, and apartment lease or copy | | | | you have cable or DSL Internet service, now is |
| of a utility bill. In a disaster, you'll be asked to | | | | the time to discover alternate Internet access |
| prove where you live and that you are who you | | | | plans to be able to get online should your DSL or |
| claim you are, especially when applying for | | | | cable access be out-of-service. You should also |
| disaster assistance. | | | | know how to access your email online through |
| 2. Have an online backup of all of your computer | | | | your ISP if you don't have access to your |
| data. I back up my computer in two ways--to an | | | | computer. If your ISP doesn't offer a version of |
| external portable hard drive as well as to an online | | | | webmail, you can use this service free-of-charge, |
| backup service. I use both because my files are | | | | 8. Adequate office supplies for a month. I threw |
| my livelihood -- I would be dead in the water | | | | in pens, pencils, post-it notes, a calculator, stamps, |
| without them -- so I want to leave absolutely no | | | | envelopes, tape, stapler, paper clips, note pads, |
| room to lose my data. For my external backup, I | | | | etc. that would last me at least a month while I |
| use a 30 GB portable drive made by Iomega, and | | | | was out of my office. I used a portable plastic file |
| for my online backup, I have 10 GB of space that | | | | case in which to carry these items. |
| I pay for at XDrive, | | | | 9. Outline of your office procedures to help you |
| 3. Create an file with vital contact information. I | | | | operate independently or be able to delegate |
| copied a file with all of my usernames and | | | | tasks. I carry much of my info in my head to run |
| passcodes for websites, bank accounts, etc. to | | | | my office, or have what I need stored in various |
| my USB flash drive (a key chain-like device with | | | | files across my computer. What makes more |
| 512 MB or 1 GB of memory -- I use one from | | | | sense for the future is to document all of my |
| Lexar, as well as the physical and email addresses | | | | office procedures, as well as computer and client |
| and all phone numbers of friends, clients and | | | | info, so that everything I need is in one document. |
| family members -- anyone I needed to contact | | | | I can then upload this doc to my Yahoo account, |
| during the evacuation period. You'll also want to | | | | my backup files, or carry it with my on my USB |
| take along your children's school contact info to | | | | flash drive. My colleague, Jean Hanson, has |
| be able to check on the current operating status | | | | designed a great template that asks you to note |
| of your child's school, as well as local media | | | | and record everything someone would need to |
| website info. My lifeline in getting current | | | | know to get your business back up and running. |
| information about my home city was through the | | | | It's the Home Office Procedures Manual, available |
| websites of Beaumont's newspapers and | | | | for purchase here: |
| television and radio stations. If you keep your | | | | 10. Digital camera to record the event and/or |
| contact info in Outlook and have a Yahoo | | | | record damages to personal property. I wish I'd |
| account, Yahoo offers a synchronization feature | | | | had a digital camera to record all that I witnessed |
| in which you can synchronize all of your info in | | | | during my evacuation from Hurricane Rita. My |
| Outlook to your Yahoo account. Find out more | | | | sister took tons of pics, but I would've loved to |
| here: All you need to access your info in Yahoo is | | | | have had the same opportunity. More importantly, |
| a computer and to know your username and | | | | however, is the need for a digital camera to |
| password. | | | | record damage to your home and property. In a |
| 4. Know the primary office/computer equipment | | | | wide-spread disaster, it can be at least a month |
| that will be required to get your business up and | | | | before your insurance adjuster will be able to |
| running. I had operated with a minimal amount of | | | | assess damages to your property. In the |
| my office equipment recently due to my being a | | | | meantime, however, you need to start repairs, |
| house sitter for a friend for 2 months. So, upon | | | | like placing a tarp on your roof, boarding up |
| receiving the mandatory evacuation order, I knew | | | | broken windows, removing downed trees from |
| in relatively short order that to run my business, I | | | | your house or yard, or cleaning your refrigerator |
| needed my desktop PC, flat panel monitor, | | | | of spoiled food. In many cases, your insurance will |
| wireless mouse and keyboard, speakers, modem | | | | cover the repairs or food replacement, but you |
| and associated cords, backup portable external | | | | need to carefully document the "before" scenario |
| hard drive, office telephone and associated cords, | | | | in order to receive compensation for your loss. |
| laptop computer, printer, box of software, and | | | | Don't let a natural disaster destroy your business. |
| scanner. It sounds like a great deal of equipment, | | | | Take some time now to prepare your |
| but I packed it all into 2 boxes from UHaul (1 small | | | | disaster-readiness plan, and get back into business |
| and 1 medium box). I knew I could work for at | | | | as soon as you can! |
| least 2 months comfortably with just this | | | | |