A major storm hit the UK in October 2013, similar to the Great Storm of 1987. The storm caused power outages, fallen trees blocking roads and rail lines, and other issues that prevented many people from traveling to their offices. This highlighted the importance of companies enabling remote work, as employees with remote access were still able to be productive from home even when local infrastructure was impacted by the storm. Having remote data storage also provides backup if an office becomes flooded or damaged. The article emphasizes that remote working capabilities allow businesses to continue operating as close to normal as possible during severe weather events.

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Value of Remote Working Emphasised by New
Great Storm
The biggest storm to hit the UK since the famous 1987 episode has
had many consequences, some of which will be felt by businesses
who have not managed to equip themselves with significant remote
working capabilities.

2. Like the 'great storm' of 1987, the southern half of England has borne
the brunt, with winds of up to 80 mph. The memories of the earlier
event gave people an idea of what to expect. The Met Office issued
severe weather warnings – a change from Michael Fish's famous
comments that there wasn't a hurricane on the way – and many will
have made preparations to work from home instead of trying to get to
offices when flying debris, floods and falling trees all posed dangers
and obstacles.

3. In 1987 thousands of trees fell, including six of the seven that gave
Sevenoaks its name. The arboreal casualties can risk human ones and
make travel impossible. So it has proved; there have been two
confirmed fatalities in England and falling trees have blocked many
roads. To this may be added railway lines blocked by standing water,
high bridges made unsafe by strong winds and power lines coming
down.
The last of these could affect many offices, should staff be able to get
there. This may be another virtue of remote working where battery
power can power laptops in the event of local blackouts.

4. Of course, weather events of this severity are rare and soon pass, but
in any given winter there will be plenty of storms and occasions where
people will either be delayed or unable to get to work at all. Having a
remote working facility will make it easier to cope, not least if people
pre-empt the situation by making arrangements to work from home.
The remote storage of data may also help, as it could provide backup if
an office itself is flooded or damaged in bad weather.

5. With the right precautions, many companies will be able to get as much
work done as on a normal day, however right or wrong Mr Fish's
successors are in their forecasts.
Storetec News/Blogs. "http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/valueof-remote-working-emphasised-by-new-great-storm/". Value of
Remote Working Emphasised by New Great Storm. October
28,2013. Storetec.

6. With the right precautions, many companies will be able to get as much
work done as on a normal day, however right or wrong Mr Fish's
successors are in their forecasts.
Storetec News/Blogs. "http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/valueof-remote-working-emphasised-by-new-great-storm/". Value of
Remote Working Emphasised by New Great Storm. October
28,2013. Storetec.