722 Preparing Your Business for Hurricane Milton

Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast

Uncle Marv kicks off with the latest on Hurricane Milton, now a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds, expected to make landfall near Sarasota around 10-12 PM. He emphasizes the storm's massive size, affecting areas from the Panhandle to the Keys.

Using the Windy.com app, Marv illustrates the storm's path and potential impacts. He shares emergency numbers and highlights Uber's free evacuation rides using the code MILTONRELIEF.

Marv recounts recent IT challenges, including remote access issues and power failures, underscoring the importance of proper preparation. He mentions ASCII's offer to help Tampa-area IT providers post-storm.

Scott Dollar joins to share his perspective from Tampa. He discusses his company's preparations, including notifying clients, securing equipment, and ensuring cloud-based systems are ready. Scott notes most of his clients are now cloud-based, simplifying disaster recovery.

They compare experiences from past hurricanes, with Scott recalling 2004's Hurricane Charlie. Both stress the importance of heeding evacuation orders and being prepared with supplies.

The conversation turns to proactive measures like regular UPS battery replacements and the challenge of getting clients to invest in disaster preparedness before a crisis hits.

They wrap up by discussing Florida's well-organized hurricane response compared to other states, and the unexpected threats like tornadoes that can accompany hurricanes.

Websites mentioned:

1. Windy.com - https://www.windy.com
2. National Hurricane Center - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
3. SpaghettiModels.com - https://www.spaghettimodels.com

Phone Numbers and Websites - Hurricane Milton

Emergency Contacts

• Emergency Services: 911
• American Red Cross: 1-800-733-2767
• FEMA Disaster Assistance: 1-800-621-3362
• Special Needs Shelters (Orange County): 311 or 407-836-3111
• Florida State Emergency Information Line: 1-800-342-3557

Websites for Updates and Information

• Windy: https://www.windy.com
• Florida Division of Emergency Management: FloridaDisaster.org
• Florida Shelter Status: FloridaDisaster.org/shelter-status
• FEMA Hurricane Milton Updates: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-milton
• American Red Cross Shelter Locator: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html

Evacuation Information

• Evacuation Assistance: 800-729-3413
• Florida Disaster Evacuation Routes: FloridaDisaster.org/evacuation-routes
• Free Evacuation Rides (Uber): Use promo code MILTONRELIEF in the Uber app

=== Show Information

• Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
• Host: Marvin Bee
• Uncle Marv’s Amazon Store: https://amzn.to/3EiyKoZ
• Become a monthly supporter: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast