Power Outage Guide

1. Back It Up!

Hardware damaged by power surges can be replaced, but your data is a different story. Make sure that any irreplaceable documents, photos, videos, and other data is stored in at least two separate locations. We recommend an external hard drive, which can be protected in a safe deposit box or fireproof safe, or backing your data up online.

2. Use Clean Power

Modified sine wave inverters may damage consumer electronics. If you’re using a generator for backup power during an outage, make sure you are using a pure sine inverter for TVs, computers, cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices.

3. Uninterruptible Power Supply

A UPS keeps your computer powered long enough to save your work and safely shut it down, and is a must-have for any desktop system.

4. Surge Protectors

Any electronics not plugged into a UPS are at risk in the event of an outage or surge. Protect your electronics from voltage spikes and other outage-related damage by plugging them into a surge protector.

NOTE: A power strip is not necessarily a surge protector!

5. Keep Power Banks

A power bank provides a portable battery that can be used to charge USB devices such as phones, tablets, and GPS. Make sure you charge them up before the lights go out!