Hurricanes cause billions of dollars in damage each year, including damage to computers. Computers can be much harder to replace if lost than other electronics because of the data contained on their hard drives and time spent tweaking and overclocking them. How important a computer can be after a natural disaster. The hurricane season looming in the days ahead, I decided to write a guide to help people protect their computers and data during a natural disaster.
Part I: Backing Up Data And Things to Have
Hurricane season or not, you should always be backing up your data. Plan on riding out the storm (a bad idea) or evacuating to another location, you should have a backup of your computer data either on an external hard drive or optical media such as CD-Rs or a DVD. Be sure to keep data in a very safe place, such as a waterproof safe.
Next, you should have the following things to make life after the storm easier:
Phone numbers for insurance, computer or computer parts companies, and phone numbers for all local ISPs (including dial-up and satellite). Having insurance company phone number and phone numbers for your computer company will help get your computer replaced faster if it is damaged. I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to have phone numbers and even access disks for all of your local ISPs! After Katrina, the Internet was the only way many people could contact the outside world. The broadband was down for 3 weeks and none of the other broadband ISPs would new orders due to the storm, leaving me with my old friend Dial Up, whom I thought I had buried 8 years ago. Best bet is to use a satellite ISP, as they have no equipment that can be destroyed by a hurricane and cause an outage.
Backup of all your file, have all application and game discs, CD keys, drivers, and operating system discs on hand.
Photos of your computer as well as proof of what parts are inside.
In the event your quad SLI rig is destroyed, you don’t want your insurance company to replace it with something of a significantly lesser value, do you? It’s very easy for people to claim “I had this, this, and this, and it all cost me $3000 last month.” after their 3-year-old Athlon XP rig is destroyed. The insurance company may be hesitant to replace your expensive computer parts unless you can prove you own them. The replacement cost of damaged property, some, may only cover part of the damage cost.
Blog or Social Networking Profile
Social networking sites, such as Myspace, were great after Katrina. Friends could find out where other friends had evacuated to simply by reading each other's Myspace.
Generator and Gas
A generator can power many things, including home computers! Check with your local generator supplier about any local laws about generators, how to safely and properly set one up, and how well they will work with computers. Generators provide unstable power, a battery backup UPS and a surge protector are a must. Count on gas to power your generator being available in the aftermath of the storm. It’s best to have a good supply of gas as well as a few empty gas containers on hand.
Part II: Evacuating with Your PC
Like any family members or pets you may have, your PC isn’t something to leave behind if you can avoid it. The first priority should be getting out alive, you should consider bringing your PC with you if you can room in your car. You can’t count on your destination to have good computers, high speed Internet, or any entertaining activities for that matter. In another place during a hurricane is stressful. Watching your hometown being walloped on CNN and The Weather Channel, the people around you as well as yourself will be tense and worried. A nice computer to browse the web with and play Battlefield 2 is a sure entertainer. The Internet was the only place where I could get information about my very neighborhood after the storm! Local newspaper message boards were packed with evacuees from all over my area and had plenty of information about damage to share.
Even if you can’t bring your PC, at the very least bring your hard drive with you! If your home is looted in the aftermath of the storm, the last thing you want is your personal data in someone else’s hands. Sure your hard drive is in an anti-static bag to avoid needless damage to it.
If taking a long road trip, you should probably place some sort of padding or foaming (even a blanket will work) around your computer or hard drive to protect it from the vibrations of the car. Don’t bring your monitor unless you have an LCD and there’s room for it.
Part III: Leaving Your PC at Home
If you don’t have room for your PC in your car, don’t plan on staying with it during the storm. There are several safeguards you can take to prevent unnecessary damage to your computer:
Cover any open parts of your computer case (such as fans and vents) with tape. Don’t use duct tape unless you want to risk taking paint off your case or a sticky mess.
Consider how high your home is above sea level, the risk of flooding, and other factors. You should put your computer on the second floor. But if you know your roof is weak and could easily blow off, don’t put it on the second floor! Find an enclosed space with no windows (such as a closet) as close to the center of your home as possible. If your computer case has a side window, make sure it’s facing towards the ground or against a wall.
Part IV: When the Worst Happens
In the event your PC becomes damaged during the storm, don’t fret. The fallen tree or a piece of flying debris, there is nothing you can do.
Do not turn on the computer! Make sure it is unplugged! While you may be anxious to see if your computer can run, don’t do it if you know it’s been exposed to water. You’ll just end up causing more damage if you do.
Remove the CMOS battery and other parts.
Use a solution of 90% alcohol or more to wash the various components of your computer, including connectors. Use a paint brush to remove stubborn crud.
Let your computer dry completely.
If the above doesn’t work, or you have data you can’t risk losing on your hard drive, consider professional computer recovery. CMOS battery, the hard drive, optical drives, or any fans if they have been flooded.
Hopefully this guide will help people save their computers from hurricane related damage. Remember, a computer is only a material possession. Use good judgement when deciding whether to take your computer with you and while repairing it if it damaged.
Disclaimer: In no way is the author responsible for any actions you may take to save your computer from a hurricane or fix it after flooding. Any actions you choose regarding hurricanes and computers are taken at your own risk. For the sake of all, please use common sense during any natural disaster.
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