Planning For the Worst
In a few hours, it’s forecast that a destructive “super-typhoon” will pass by where I live. Fellow local bloggers and freelancers who make their living online now rush to finish their commitments early, before power and connectivity give out.
And as a freelancer that should be the first step when preparing for calamity. Finish as much work as you can, so that nothing will be on your mind as you deal with the disaster. But only do this after you’ve wrapped up even more crucial preparations, such as bracing your house against strong winds. Don’t forget to warn clients you’ll be out of touch for a while!
Next, charge everything that has a battery. Flashlights, electric lamps, smartphones and PDAs, laptops, etc. Think of it as filling up your car before a long trip; you won’t be able to get more fuel (i.e., power) for a while. You never know if you’ll need these electronics in a pinch.
Lastly, while candles and matches are vital, buy a kerosene lamp if you don’t have one (look in wet markets, or make one yourself). It provides enough light (unlike candles) for reading and writing, two things you can do while waiting for 190 kph winds to stop battering your closed windows. Of course, don’t forget to also buy some oil, and never leave the lamp on while you sleep! Consider a safe bottle lamp for peace of mind.
The point is to take all the steps needed to make waiting out the storm as bearable as possible. The last thing on your mind should be unfinished work (”oh no, when will power come back; that presentation’s due tomorrow!”), and you should have enough electrical and biological power for your gadgets and yourself. The lamp will also allow you to write, preventing boredom or allowing work to be done.
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POSTED IN: Living as a Freelancer
5 opinions for Planning For the Worst
angelo
Nov 30, 2006 at 8:31 pm
The last super typhoon (Milenyo) really taught me a lesson. I didn’t expect the power to be out for such a long time and that left me “behind” in my blogging - all that NBA news going by without me commenting on them. Thankfully, I still had decent traffic even without any new content for days.
Rico
Nov 30, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Good thing the typhoon missed us Ange! Though I’m worried about people I know in the Bicol region (an area where Reming passed through); they’ve barely recovered from Milenyo, and in just two months they get hit again? :(
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