When the Internet Goes Out

If recent events in Egypt have taught us anything, it is that the modern world needs the internet. It’s a part of everything we do, from news, communication and business to shopping and learning. And while the chances of a total black-out (like seen in Egypt) is unlikely, there are times when weather, technical difficulties and other problems can affect your access to the internet.

How do you prepare for a possible internet interruption? Start by thinking ahead. If you work online, especially if you run an online business, make sure clients and customers still have a way to contact you. Ideally, you should have both a mobile and land line phone number listed. Keep a list of your clients, with their contact information, available in paper form. Also, don’t keep the only copies of important documents on the internet (through GoogleDocs or similar). You won’t have access to them if the internet is temporarily out.

Have at least one internet device that operates on a different internet service than your computer. This could be a cell phone, tablet PC with 3G or 4G wireless service, or even an ebook reader with internet access. While you may be limited as to how much you can actually accomplish, it will allow you to stay in contact with business contacts, keep up with some work, or even just pass the time while waiting for the internet to come back.

Do things the old-fashioned way. Even if you don’t have internet access, you can still print off documents you need to share and fax them. Or, as long as your cell phone is still working and you can use it to access the internet, you can send documents stored online. If your computer has a modem, you can use dial-up internet, as long as you still have a working phone line. Also, because Bluetooth doesn’t use the internet, you will still have your devices connected. This is especially useful if you can use your bluetooth enabled cell phone to use your printer or other office equipment. Some printers can even scan pages right into an online directory, for easier sharing.

Use the down time to perform work or business related tasks that don’t require an internet connection. You could also spend the time cleaning up your hard drive or performing other computer maintenance tasks, things that most people neglect.

In most cases, the internet will be back up and working within a few hours, or within a day or two at most. However, there may eventually be a situation where you’re left without the internet for days at a time. The only way to not lose all productivity during that time is to have a plan in place before you’re suddenly without a way to access the web.

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