What I Learned Trying to Run an Internet Business in the Wake of Hurricane Ian with No Power

Should your business have a doomsday plan in case the grid ever goes down, power goes out, or WiFi gets wiped out for weeks at a time?

Well, I never thought this would be the case in my life… until it was.

On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall where I live, 100 miles south of where the weather experts told Floridians it would be hitting. Cape Coral was not instructed to evacuate (where I took shelter), and 200mph winds with 12-foot storm surges absolutely annihilated the area. We were not properly warned, nor prepared, for the storm itself, much less what would follow.

The obvious goes without saying – we were all beyond grateful to be alive. Many could not say the same in our area.

But as the days wore on, with no power, WiFi, or cell service of any kind (the storm took out the internet AND cable AND power lines), being able to contact the outside world or manage an internet business, became challenging.

It was this experience that made me realize every business owner needs to have an emergency plan if the grid we all take for granted goes down. And with the agitated powers-that-be warning of a future cyber-attack (or all-out war), I believe it’s time we all start talking about the unpredictability that could very well be in our future.

Step 1: Satellite Access

Not being able to contact my sister and tell her I was OK absolutely broke my heart and made me realize I need an option to send messages even if the entire internet infrastructure of the area is down. That’s when I started researching. Now, for me, please try to separate your personal opinion of Elon Musk when I share what I discovered with his satellite company, StarLink .

I signed up for their RV plan (portable satellite) and have used it camping, at festivals, or when the power goes out here again from time-to-time. So long as you have a clearing that allows it to beam up to the satellite (no trees/branches can be nearby), the device will give you internet connection. It connects to satellites orbiting the earth, not nearby cell towers, so hurricanes do not impact your connectivity.

This is huge. All you need is a three-pronged outlet (I have one in my Jeep). If your car does not have an outlet, you should consider a solar panel and converter that provides you with outlets in the event of total power outages. If this is of interest to people, I can share more on this topic.

Step 2: Investing in a Spread-Out Team

Many of my team members are not here in Southwest Florida with me. This is on purpose. If one area of the country is hit, your team members 1,000-miles away are still able to log onto their devices. Creating a plan that signifies to them you are unable to check email or client messages will give you peace of mind if you find yourself in a dead zone. I recommend making one of these plans and sharing it with your team for emergencies.

This same tactic also helps across time zones with managing clients. Many freelance agency managers purposely find customer service support in a time zone that’s six-hours different from their own, so they are always able to answer clients, even sleeping.

Step 3: You Can Never Be Too Prepared

There is no such thing as prepping ‘too thoroughly’ when it comes to this stuff. Trust me when I say… you think it could never be you, until it is. Solar-powered devices are the way to go, as well as stocking up on batteries and having at least three portable phone chargers always juiced up and ready to go. We blew through our backup chargers in less than 24-hours. We’ve grown so accustomed to the infrastructure we use today that we fail to realize how vulnerable we are if the power and internet go down for extended periods of time.

And if you don’t believe me when I say cyber war is possible, go look up what the astrologers are saying on social media.

I am not sure why I experienced something as devastating as Hurricane Ian, but I do believe it gave me perspective in the wake of a natural disaster that I can now share with you. The internet has changed the game when it comes to financial freedom – take the extra step to make sure your side hustles stay afloat if something unforeseen happens.

For those looking to get started side hustling, don’t forget to check out my program .

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