Another hurricane is taking aim at the United States. If you find yourself in the path -- or in surrounding areas (do not be complacent because the mapsandcharts show you to be outside the worst of things), then it's time to take things seriously, and get your tech ready for what Mother Nature has in store.
This is something to think about well before you find yourself in the storm's crosshairs.
I'm going to break these down into the essentials, and things that are nice to have, both for the home and in the car.
I will also recommend products that I have personally tested and used, and that I have found to be reliable (this is not the time to find out that something is unreliable!).
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Do this as soon as you can. This is especially important if you live somewhere where the power is likely to go out.
Also, remember to charge up any portable battery packs and rechargeable batteries you have (you might not need them, but they may help a neighbor out of a bind).
Here are a selection of websites that will let you do just that. You might also want to link to a local weather station and news site.
And here are a couple of apps to help you stay informed:
The internet might go down, along with your phone and power,but the radio will likely still work . Radios are still the most reliable way to stay in touch in an emergency.
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If you have one handy make sure that the batteries are fresh and that you know how to use it. Do a quick Google search in advance for local radio stations you can tune into, and write these on a piece of paper or sticker.
If you have big, cumbersome weatherproof cases for your smartphones and tablets that you don't normally use, now is the time to put them on. Go on -- no one will judge you!
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If you don't have a custom case, aZiploc bag is better than nothing. And if you have one of those little bags of silica gel that comes with all sorts of things, throw one of those into the bag with your device as it'll help absorb any moisture that makes its way into the bag.
For bigger items like clothes, I like theroll-top dry bags . They're roomy, robust, and keep the water out of stuff.
Fire, flood, theft. These can take your device, but if you have a backup, your data is not lost.
An off-site or cloud backup is preferable (even if "off-site" means keeping a drive at a friend or family member's house).
If all you have is an external hard drive or USB key, then that will have to do -- pop it into a waterproof bag to give it a fighting chance! Alternatively, you can invest in awaterproof and fireproof storage drive .
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My solution is to back up to the cloud using Backblaze, and also have local backups in awaterproof and fireproof RAID external unit for easy access.
I've seen people superglue their hand to their face, smash themselves in the teeth with a hammer while trying to put up storm shutters, struggle for over an hour trying to start a gasoline generator that didn't have any gas in it, turn an expensive tent into a fireball attempting to refill a gasoline stove that was already lit, slice their hand open with a screwdriver, and settle down to read the instructions for some essential bit of kit as a massive storm approaches.
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Add stress and fear into the mix, and you have the potential for a lot of chaos.
Not sure how your portable battery pack, generator, or new weather app works? The time to be figuring this out is now, not when the winds are strengthening, the rain is starting, and the lights have gone out.
Oh, and now is a good time to download and print out any manuals you might need.
Also, the more you practice and use your gear, the more likely you are to remember you have it. I've known people forget that they have some useful bit of kit when an emergency hits.
This is why practice and drills are important!