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In addition to the American Red Cross App, Tech Republic has put together a list of Apps that are worth checking out prior to a natural disaster. We especially like the Maps.Me App which allows you to download city maps in the case that you lose signal or data at any point.
2. Forward calls to cell phones.
Many phone providers allow the option of automatic call forwarding to cell phones. The feature works wonders for people who work remotely in the field, but is also very handy when your office (and the phones in it) loses power. If you work for an organization that provides critical or emergency services and currently cannot forward your calls to mobile phones/devices - look into alternative phone providers.
3. Power off and unplug servers, workstations and networking equipment - take equipment to higher ground or a safe location if possible.
The best way to prepare your equipment when expecting severe weather is to shutdown your workstations, nonessential servers and network equipment properly and then unplug all power cables. If you cannot power down and unplug your server because it is essential make sure it's protected by a reliable surge protector and UPS and back up your files. Remember - not all power strips are effective surge protectors, it is likely that a strong surge can run right through your strip and fry your machine.
4. Make sure your backups are working properly.
Check the backups you have already set in place. When is the last time your files were backed up? Are there any files that are not included in the backup that you can move to a cloud file storage space for safekeeping?
If you currently are not using a backup solution - investigate which tool will work best for you. The expense to backup your information is far less than the cost your organization will incur if you lose your data.
