We help many clients with disaster preparedness. Now that our own town has just gone through a disaster of major proportions, we want to share some suggestions for dealing with data storage devices after the disaster.
- If you have remote backup or cloud storage for your files, relax. It may take a while for you to get back into your office, but your data is safe.
- Don’t try to clean or dry computers or mobile devices. While drying a cell phone in a bowl of rice can really help if you dropped your phone in a puddle, salt water can leave crystals of salt when it dries, and they can cause further damage. The same is true of dirt and debris carried by storm water. You can also cause damage to your computer by taking it apart and physically drying or cleaning parts.
- Don’t try to get your data back on your own. You can easily cause further damage. If you didn’t have backup, leave your machines alone and get expert assistance as soon as possible. You may be surprised by how much information a specialist can retrieve, but any movement can make things worse.
- Do remove any battery, and don’t plug your machine in to see if it’s okay. The combination of water and electricity can be fatal — to your electronics, your data, and even to you.
- Salt water is corrosive and computers don’t handle dirt well, so be prepared for the possibility that your electronics will all have to be replaced. However, don’t assume that your data can’t be retrieved, even if your machinery is no longer usable.
Each of us has a different set of priorities and problems in response to Hurricane Sandy. Once you’re ready to think about your computers and your data, contact us at Asis. We’ll help you create a plan to go on from here.
