OK, I think I get to be self-centered this week and announce a theme that is directly derived from my life. As you all know, my condo (including my home office) was struck by a tornado (or microburst) on August 23 (here are some lovely photos), and since then I’ve been in a whirl of planning, packing, moving, phone calls, appointments, decisions, emotions…it’s been overwhelming. I was very lucky to have loads of help packing for our sudden move, including some of my fellow ideaXchangers, for which I am extremely thankful. If not for them and my friends and family, I don’t know where I would be today. In any case, this disaster came on the heels of an email round-robin discussion about back-up strategies and the like. So my theme for the week: Are you prepared for disaster? Ask yourself: - Are my vital (irreplacable) files backed up somewhere outside my office? I would love to hear what you are doing, what you are planning, what you’ve considered, what’s worked well for you in the past, etc. And I IMPLORE you to get insurance if you don’t have it. Without homeowner’s insurance, we would be totally screwed. It costs us less than $300 a year and totally absolutely 100% worth it.
Comments:
3 Comments posted on "Theme of the week: Are you prepared for disaster?"
lidia on September 11th, 2007 at 10:41 am #
I’m actually currently making DVD backups of all my important files to keep offsite. My goal is to do this twice a year — though sometimes I don’t think of it until the dreaded hard drive crash (which happened recently) After a previous hard drive crash last year, I created a detailed Backup Plan: WHAT files to backup, WHEN (daily, weekly, etc.) and WHERE to store them. It seems a bit obsessive, but has proven a godsend after the last crash. And having it written down keeps me on track. Everyone: BACKUP YOUR DATA!
lidia on September 11th, 2007 at 10:47 am #
P.S. Don’t forget to backup your email data too. Most of us likely don’t print every important email (save the trees) so being able to access your email files after a crash is crucial.
rickey gold on September 11th, 2007 at 11:21 pm #
Jenni - We’re very happy to have you back. You have all the weekly themes (nah, that’s not why). It’s unfortunate that this topic comes up again. I had no idea that regular homeowners insurance covered disasters like this…it’s not like we’re in KS. My main fear was not having a computer to work on…something I realized when my desktop died last year. So I now have a laptop as well. That allows me to work even if it’s not in my office. My CD backups and external hard drive are next to each other. In a crisis, I can grab them and run (or swim). But I’m wondering if anyone is fully backed up online. I’m thinking that that’s the safest bet of all. I know an accountant who backs up all her client files online somewhere. As long as files are password protected, it seems like a wise move. Anyone doing it? Post a comment
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