Went through Charley - no $
Posted By: Melissa on 2007-05-09
In Reply to: I live in FL, too, and if I have to evacuate, working is the last thing I'm worried about. nm - But that's just me
I realize it seems silly to think about working in those situations, but my family and I were blindsided by hurricane Charley. The town was destroyed and we all went without paychecks for over a month while everything got put back together. My mother's house even went into foreclosure. Some people were very understanding as far as paying bills were concerned, but most were not. I now have a small savings account, but it is hard to save enough for those situations. In any event, not only is it imporant to work for money, but it's important to work to keep my job! An employer is not likely to let you take a month off until your power gets turned back on.
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I too was in Charley and a couple others
First off - laptop with a battery with a car adapter. I missed one day of work that day only. I plugged my laptop into the car battery to recharge it when I needed to, which was about ever 2 hours, but better than being without work. (I even went to the local fire department - only about five blocks away - and they let me plug in and charge it up one afternoon - desperatiion)
Verizon now has a wireless card that you can get that works just about anywhere. The only crux is that you have to have a Verizon cell phone.
I have Vonage and I always take it with me, but you have to have a broadband modem to connect to, so if there is no power, that does not work.
I have spent a few nights in a motel just to be able to work. It usually winds up a wash between the cost of the motel and the net pay for that time, but my employer is not upset, I get a shower and a clean bed.
I have a small gasoline generator that runs for about three hours. I plug my office battery backup (UPS)into it -- because those generators do have up and down output, so I protect against surges and drops (brownouts)-- and then I plus my computer equipment, my broadband modem, and anything else I need to work at that time.
I am an independent contractor but no subcontractors. I have some clients that understand and some do not when there is a crisis. My personal feeling is that I am a profession and should be prepared -- the buck stops with me.
Hope this helps.
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