A few nights ago my expensive high speed internet went down. Not for a few minutes, but for hours. And then it happened again…..every day (but not all day) for 2 weeks. While this was inconvenient it could have been worse. So many services today tout the ease of storing your data online. They tout high up time and redundant servers, backup systems, etc. That’s all find and good — but what if you can’t get online? You can’t access your data.
Here’s a few things to think about storing locally (on your own computer) or at least not keeping your only copy online.
- Address/Phone Book – I use Palm Desktop to sync my Palm. This has been a great tool for looking up phone numbers when I don’t have online access. And it’s backed up, locally and on my Palm. Last night I even used an old fashioned phone book to look up the number for a local store.
- Financial Data – Keep it locally in Quicken (my favorite), Microsoft Money, or even a spreadsheet. If you don’t like any of these programs, you can still do it the old fashioned way — in a check register.
- Podcasts – download into iTunes so you can have something to listen to when you’re offline. Last night I caught up on the nightly news, NPR shows, and a devotional. I know way more about the oil spill than I did 24 hours ago — because I had podcasts to listen to.
- Documents – I love Google Docs for the ease of sharing documents with others, but when I’m not online I can’t read and edit them. Keep a copy locally for when you work offline.
- Recipes – Ever had the net go down when you’re making dinner and trying to find that recipe you read about on someone’s blog? Buy the book, print out the recipe, or at least save it to your computer.
- School Projects — My kids use Education Backpack to move files between school and home. This eliminates the need for thumb drives to be lost or stolen. Make sure you have a backup at home for when the internet is down. This is most likely to happen the night before a big project is due.
Make it a habit — and don’t store all your data online.
September is National Preparedness Month. What are we doing better than last year? What have we personally learned? Added to my blogroll will be other blogs and sites where I go for preparedness information. Take a few minutes and visit a few.
1 year ago, Hurricane IKE visited the United States. He dropped rain and hurled trees throughout the Gulf Coast of Texas. Then, while leaving much of the water behind, he swung through the midwest and whopped the Greater Cincinnati area. Sunday’s Cincinnati Enquirer has an article talking about what’s happened with emergency preparedness since last year. It’s an interesting article and one thing that struck me is a quote from the Butler County Sheriff. He wondered how many people have generators now, but don’t know how to use them.
That comment from a law enforcement officer really struck me. All too often we find a tool, gadget, or a thing-a-ma-bob that’s supposed to save us money, or make life easier for us. But after the purchase we fail to learn how to properly use the item. Then it sits on the shelf or in the garage getting dusty. Then one day it’s resurrected for a garage sale only to be sold at a fraction of it’s original price.
So, today I challenge you to find 1 item that you bought this last year to help you be more prepared and learn to use it. It could be a generator, alternate heating or cooking source, water purifier, wind up flashlight, crank radio, etc. Whatever it is that you thought you needed last September, get it out and make it work.
September is National Preparedness Month. As part of this, Emergency Essentials (www.beprepared.com) is having a sale on powdered milk.  This is the only kind of powdered milk I buy for my family. We’ve done several taste tests and this one always comes out on top. It’s not just as good as “fresh” milk, but close enough for us. Each can makes about 4.75 gallons of milk, so that’s like paying $2.73/gallon. Now I realize that’s not “cheap” milk or even “on sale” pricing for milk in the midwest, but it’s a good price for powdered milk. Powdered milk has saved me from having to go to the store in the middle of life’s crazyness. I also use it in my cooking.
Here’s a little hint…the mixer pitcher….really works. Put in 3 pints of of water, add plunger, add 1 cup of powdered milk, then mix. Refrigerate at least overnight. 12 hours is best. It has to be really cold to taste good.
Check out Emergency Essential’s blog for more information.
Disclaimer: Emergency Essentials is not paying me to advertise their product. I wish I got some kind of kickback for all the business I’ve sent their way. My satisfaction is in telling others of the good products I’ve found that work for my family. When more people buy them, they’ll keep getting sold. So, my reasons for sharing are selfish 
.
