When Hurricanes Sabotage Freelancers: Dealing with Power Outages

The advantages of being a freelancer are obvious: You set the rules, including holding the option of working in your pajamas. However, a major disadvantage of being a freelancer can rear its ugly head during extreme weather: You’re codependent on your home’s electricity.



After a devastating storm such as last year’s Sandy, many people suffer from long-term power outages. For people who work from home, these outages are even more detrimental, since they can mean loss of income. Luckily, with a little resourcefulness, you can get your work done while you wait for the electric company to get your power back on.

Plan ahead

With advanced weather technology and quick access to weather reports, it’s possible to plan ahead for a storm. If you hear severe weather predictions, make sure all your electronics have a full charge. If you usually access reports, articles or charts online, download or print out any materials that you might need to complete your work.

Before a hurricane, blizzard or other storm, make sure you get in touch with your clients. Let everyone know that you might not have Internet access for a few days except with your smartphone. Provide your mobile number so that you can still be reached in an emergency. This step is particularly important, as it will prepare your clients for the upcoming realities – output will probably slow down or even halt completely. Once a client is warned of a possible power outage, he or she ideally can adjust expectations accordingly.

Another way to prepare for the worst-case scenario is to set up a cash reserve. During periods when you’re churning out several projects, put away some income for times when you’re experiencing a drought in clients or, in the case of a storm, are unable to complete your work. A rainy day fund will give you a little wiggle room to wait out the interim period of no power.

Find free Wi-Fi

For some, getting work done without the Internet is impossible. If you’re in dire need of online access, you have options. After natural disasters, some churches and other places of worship open their doors to people in need of electricity. Even some health clubs grant storm victims free access for a limited time. Also, ask around and see whether any friends, family members or neighbors will allow you to use their Internet connection. Plenty of coffee shops, restaurants, libraries and retail stores also offer free Wi-Fi. If you end up in a coffee shop or store, be a good consumer and make at least a small purchase.

Consider mobile Internet

If your entire neighborhood is out of power, you might be hard pressed to even find a coffee shop with Wi-Fi. In cases such as these, it’s good to have mobile Internet access. Just as smartphones, laptops and other mobile devices can access the Internet on the go, some Internet providers have created 4G hotspots that span entire cities. These online networks are easy to access. With an Internet plan and the proper hardware, you can achieve an instant online connection. Some mobile phone providers also offer plug-in mobile hotspots with a monthly plan.

Tether your smartphone to your laptop

If you have a smartphone with 3G/4G capabilities, you might be able to link up your laptop with your phone’s online connection. Through USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, you can use your regular Internet browser, email and online apps. Your browsing speeds might be slower than usual, but this option works well in a pinch. Just be prepared to stock up on cellphone batteries, since tethering rapidly depletes battery power.

To tether your phone, you’ll likely need to pay your cellular carrier extra money. However, some apps achieve the same connection on various platforms, such as Android™ and iPhone®, for free. If you opt for the free app route, your carrier might not find out that you’ve tethered, but you could end up with additional overage fees because of your data use. If you stick to just checking your email, you can avoid going over your data limits or jamming up your carrier’s network.

Charge your laptop in your car

If you’re miles from a friend or coffee shop with power, then you can attempt to charge your laptop in your car. To do so, you need to know your computer’s power consumption in watts. This number might be on the bottom of your laptop, close to the battery. You can also find this information on the manufacturer’s website. Knowing your laptop’s power consumption, you can purchase the appropriate power converter. As an extra precaution, you can use a surge protector as well.

These options are your best bets for getting anything done during a power outage. With a little technical savvy and good communication with your clients, you’ll be able to ride out a long-term power outage without too many hiccups.

When Hurricanes Sabotage Freelancers: Dealing with Power Outages

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