- September 27, 2018
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- 5 min
Hurricane Season is Upon Us
It’s peak hurricane season here in the northeast, and that means the threat of severe storms is perpetually around the corner until November – at which point well be salting the roads in preparation for snow.
First and foremost, be safe. Take the necessary precautions to ensure that you are prepared for the oncoming weather and any emergencies that may happen as a result of damage caused. Once you are confident that you are prepared, use our tips below to make the best of a remote workday.
While we don’t have the ability to control the weather, technology has provided us with the ability to work from anywhere in many cases, allowing business operations to continue from the comfort and safety of our homes.
The introduction of remote access services, Cloud-based systems and applications, and mobile devices in to the workplace have made remote work much easier than it has been in the past.
Many businesses allow staff to work from home when necessary, and doing so provides many benefits:
- It is a demonstration of trust that builds morale
- It allows business to continue, even in adverse conditions
- It provides a competitive advantage their customers will notice
Whether you commute to work on a daily basis, or work from home regularly, preparing for severe weather will allow you to remain productive throughout a storm.
With a storm approaching, it’s important to make sure that some basic items are available:
Flashlight, batteries, and a portable radio
The first thing most people reach for during a power outage is a flashlight, so make sure that you have one in an area that is easy to access and keep a fresh supply of batteries available. If you use rechargeable batteries, be sure to charge them in advance.
It’s also convenient to have a portable radio available for weather updates during a power outage. If you’re looking to purchase a portable radio, select one that can be charged using a manual hand crank – many even include USB ports for charging phones!
Emergency cash and medication
It’s important to have cash available during a storm, especially if there are power outages. While you may be able to make it do your local deli for supplies, they may not be able to process credit cards, so make a detour to an ATM on your way home.
If you are taking any prescriptions, be sure to have a few days worth available and review your first aid kit to make sure that your are stocked with common supplies – and what you have hasn’t expired.
Healthy food, water, and snacks
Be sure to have foods available that are healthy, easy to prepare, and keep you energized and working efficiently. Avoid foods that are high in sugar and fat, otherwise you may find yourself with a sugar rush and the unavoidable crash. Foods that are high in protein and fiber will keep you feeling full throughout the day, and then you can enjoy some less healthy snacks later on.
Having fresh water available is just as important. Plan on storing at least one gallon of water per person for each day you anticipate working from home.
With the basic necessities in place, think about any tasks and project that you are working on and any related materials you’ll need to take home, along with:
Record your passwords
Chances are that if you are working from a personal computer, you’ll need to be able to log in to your employer’s systems in order to perform any tasks ahead of you.
Remember to record any account credentials that you’ll need. While we suggest using a password manager under normal conditions, there may be a risk of a power outage so recording your passwords on to a piece of paper and destroying it later works – especially if you have the ability to relocate to a friend of family member’s home if necessary.
If you are using a password manager, be sure to save a copy of your password vault and take it home with you. If you use any hardware-based 2-factor authentication devices, be sure to bring them home as well.
Bring home your work laptop
The majority of Valiant’s clients choose to provide laptops to their staff for everyday mobility purposes, and the ability to bring a laptop home with you will make working remotely much easier. You’ll have access to your important files, applications, and other tools that allow business to continue.
Take your laptop home with you the evening before an anticipated storm and remember to take the charger too! Once home, charge your laptop’s battery to 100% just in case there are any power interruptions during the storm.
Plug in portable chargers
Be sure to plug in any portable chargers and devices you’ll need to use. It’s important to stay in touch with your team when working remotely, and keeping your mobile phone fully charged will help you do so.
If you have portable power packs, be sure to charge them as well. They’ll provide you with extra power for mobile devices extra if the lights go out.
Something to distract you from work when needed
It’s surprisingly easy to become hyper-focused on work during a storm, and it’s important that you have something to keep your mind elsewhere when the workday is over. Keeping a favorite book, some games, or other items that don’t require power will help you relax and be prepared for the following day.
Is your business ready for severe weather? Download Valiant’s Severe Weather Preparedness Checklist and learn if you’re prepared to continue business operations during a storm. Want to learn more about mobilizing your network and workforce to weather oncoming weather? Get in touch today!
