Learn three simple ways to stay connected and protected in the event of a disaster.

Online Backup

What if something happens to your home or wherever you keep your computer and/or external backup drives? For only $60/year you can back up all of your data to a data center that is extremely secure and may also be mirrored to other locations as well.

The company I trust most for backup data security is Backblaze. You can read about their excellent storage management practices.

Let me know if you need help setting this up for your Mac. Also, if you lack a fast Internet connection—which is handy for completing your initial backup—I may be able to lend you mine.

Power Banks

Suppose you experience a power outage, either as a result of a natural disaster or as a preventive measure instituted by your utility. Will you be able to power or recharge your devices?

An easy way to address this is to own one or more rechargeable power banks. You recharge a battery, usually by plugging it into the wall when power is available, and then it serves to power or recharge your devices one or more times, depending on its capacity.

I recommend conventional power banks offered by HYPER and Anker, as well as the solar-charged variety designed by WakaWaka. I have been a WakaWaka Power user since the company’s second Kickstarter campaign for succeeded in 2013.

Mobile Hotspot

Another possibility is that your home Internet connection will die, especially if its physical lines come down with the power. In this case, it may be valuable to be able to use your cellphone’s data connection to get online with other devices.

Many modern mobile phones and carriers offer a mobile hotspot option that enables this relationship. On an iPhone, you can easily enable a Personal Hotspot in Settings. This is also available automatically to your other Apple devices that are signed into the same Apple ID account.

Note, however, that if you have a limited data plan, you can easily exhaust your data allotment. To avoid this, I recommend using TripMode, a Mac application that can restrict specific apps and services from accessing your connection when on a specific wireless network.

What other tips do you have to enable people to feel safe and connected in a VUCA world (i.e., volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous)?