When a disaster occurs, chaos usually ensues. And when chaos enters, logic usually exits.
This is why it’s important to plan ahead for crisis situations that could affect your office and potentially force you and your colleagues from it.
Some disasters, such as hurricanes, come with some warning time, while others, such as tornadoes and fires, can hit in an instant. There’s no telling how much time you’ll have when a disaster arises, which is why it’s important to be prepared for a worst-case scenario. And one of the best ways you can do that is to have your disaster kit at the ready at all times.
Your emergency kit is a key component in your disaster recovery plan. So to help you compile your kit and lists, and ensure you don’t forget anything, here’s a handy checklist to help you get started.
Items to include on your office evacuation list:
- Laptop or hard drive and power cord
- Cell phone and power cord
- Procedures binder and confidential files you maintain for your executive with credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, passport information, and logins/passwords, etc.
- Key company files and contact lists
- Printed Outlook or email contacts (do this monthly or quarterly) for yourself and your executive
- Key client files and contact lists
- Key project files and contact lists
- Key vendor files and contact lists
- One-of-a-kind supplies or equipment you can’t easily replace at an office supply store or that are absolutely vital to your daily operations
Key items you need to work successfully from a remote location (such as home or a hotel):
- Computer
- Phone
- Internet (Mi-Fi devices are great options here also)
- Portable wireless printer
- Office supplies, including pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, etc.
- Electronic file access (either to your company server or to a cloud-based service like Dropbox or Box)
Items your team will need immediately (put them in the emergency box now so you’re ready in advance):
- Extension cords
- Power strips
- Flashlights
- Batteries (all types)
- Notepads
- Pens
- Post-It Notes
- Highlighters
- Tape, including duct tape, shipping tape, and regular tape
- Staplers and staples
- Paperclips and binder clips
- Envelopes – all sizes
- Printer ink/toner for portable printers
An emergency kit could be your office’s saving grace during a disaster. Keep your box or boxes of emergency items, along with your lists, in a safe place close to your desk. Then if something happens, you can throw the items on your lists in the box and be ready to get out quickly and work from almost anywhere.
Fires? Floods? Power outages? We want to hear your disaster recovery stories! Click here to share your experiences and photos with us.
© 2014 Julie Perrine International, LLC
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Julie Perrine, CAP-OM, is the founder and CEO of All Things Admin, providing training, mentoring and resources for administrative professionals worldwide. Julie applies her administrative expertise and passion for lifelong learning to serving as an enthusiastic mentor, speaker and author who educates admins around the world on how to be more effective every day. Learn more about Julie’s books — The Innovative Admin: Unleash the Power of Innovation in Your Administrative Career and The Organized Admin: Leverage Your Unique Organizing Style to Create Systems, Reduce Overwhelm, and Increase Productivity. And request your free copy of our special report “From Reactive to Proactive: Creating Your Strategic Administrative Career Plan” at www.AllThingsAdmin.com.
