Even though disasters like earthquakes, fire, and floods can strike at any time, it definitely is a higher risk in the warmer months for tornadoes and hurricanes. Of course the odds of something hitting us directly are not extremely high…but, the risk is there regardless.
Many people have taken their dream of owning their own business, or working from home, and developed it into a great position for themselves and their family. Providing for the family, all while being able to enjoy a flexible schedule to be involved in the day to day activities, is something worth protecting.
So, have you taken a good look at your home business lately, to know if it’s protected well enough? If not, I have a few suggestions that you can apply to your work environment.
Avoid the Blackout
If you have never had the lights go out on you, then you are the exception to the rule. Because, the odds are high that you will at some point experience a blackout to some degree. It’s not a huge ordeal if it goes out for just a few minutes. I mean, sure, it’s a hassle to go around changing all the clocks. But, it’s not necessarily horribly disruptive to your business.
But, what if a storm comes through your area, taking down some trees and power lines…leaving you in the dark for days? It’s not just a matter of not being able to see where you are going in the hallway. What you need to worry about, on a business level, is that you will be out of work for a few days.
Make sure that doesn’t happen by having a standby generator installed. It’s more costly than the portable version, but it will allow you to work for the duration of the power outage, as it turns on automatically when the power goes out and keeps everything running.
This will save you a lot of headache, as well as money.
Home Business Insurance
Another area to look into is insurance. Some people make the mistake of thinking that their homeowner’s policy will be enough. In a small mishap, maybe.
However, for a big disaster, it won’t. Talk with your agent to see what your specific business would require to be properly insured for replacement of everything you have. Just a few minutes of a bad storm or fire, can easily wipe out years of your hard work.
I happen to be in the insurance industry, and have witnessed many disasters and the results they leave behind. It’s why I have worked hard at informing people of the need for proper insurance, hurricane preparedness, emergency kits for cars and homes, as well as survival guides. You just never know what could happen.
Password and Username Storage
Many of us need passwords and usernames for various applications, programs, and bank accounts we use. It can be overwhelming to remember them all on any given day. I can’t imagine trying to remember them in the midst a crisis.
There are software programs, such as Roboform.com, that can store all these for you, so that you can use them from any location you find yourself.
Computer Data Backup
Losing all your computer data could be a nightmare. I store a lot of information in one little laptop, and would be lost if I couldn’t retrieve it. With a computer data backup program like Carbonite, you don’t have to worry about it.
This will automatically store each key stroke as you type it, and have it ready for you when you need it. This would also be great in case your computer crashes…and, they all do eventually.
The Other Valuables
There will be items that you need to keep hard copies of, which is where a fire-proof safe would come in handy. Items that you might consider storing in there would be:
- Tax Documents
- Flash Drives
- Photos
- Contracts
In case of a fire, or bad storm blowing through town damaging your office, these should remain intact within a quality fire box, or safe. It’s also good to have in case of theft.
In Closing
Hopefully you will never have to worry about this level of protection. However, it’s far better to be prepared for something that won’t happen, than to be unprepared if it does. You have worked too hard to see it disappear in a matter of minutes.
About the Author
As a member of the insurance industry for over 16 years, Duncan Morrison knows the importance of being prepared for a crisis. In fact, he has coupled his interest of insurance, with his passion to inform people on how to protect themselves. As a result, he has a website that discusses emergency kits for homeand auto from Itpaystobeprepared.com, as well as survival guides to get through a disaster. Duncan resides in Edmonton with his wife of 7 years. He loves a good game of poker with his friends, golf, movies, and his dog Sammy.