Spring and summer bring storms that can lead to power outages. I mean, sure, they can happen all year round. But this is time of year is when we tend to see the high winds and other factors that can lead to the lights blinking out for a while.
We’ve talked about general severe-weather preps before. This time around, we’re zeroing in on emergency illumination options you might consider. It’s important to get yourself set up for off-grid lighting. It isn’t just a convenience thing, though that’s certainly part of it.
Barking your shin or stubbing your toe isn’t fun, and both are easier to avoid if you can see where you’re walking. If you have young children in the mix, they’ll probably feel better if you can shed some light on the situation.
Flashlights
Flashlights are typically the first line of defense for emergency illumination. I try to keep several of them scattered throughout the house. Headlamps are great for going hands-free. Personally, I’m a big fan of Streamlight, but there are plenty of other great brands out there as well.
Something to consider when you’re selecting a flashlight is the lumens rating. This indicates the light’s brightness. The higher the lumens, the brighter the light. A high-lumen light is great for some uses but not so awesome for others. As a practical matter, 20-40 lumens will be fine for navigating a dark room. By way of comparison, a cell phone flashlight is around 40 lumens.
Ramping up from there, flashlights with a rating of 100-400 lumens will work well for most routine power outages. If you want to light up the backyard, look for 500-1000 lumens.
One more option in this category is the dynamo-powered flashlight. These have a crank handle on the side that powers the light. Rotate the handle several times, and you’re in business, at least for a little while. These can be great for kids because they can power the light themselves without wasting batteries.
Candles and Lamps
While I like them for ambiance, I’m not overly keen on using candles and other open-flame sources of illumination during a power outage. We have dogs, cats, and a two-year-old granddaughter. Any of them could accidentally bump into something and knock a candle over.
That said, candles are pretty cheap. Pro tip: head to your local thrift store and see what they have on the shelf. Locally, I can pick up unused taper candles for under a buck a piece. Pillars are better, though, as they’re more stable and don’t require a separate holder. It really doesn’t matter if it has Santa on the side of it, either. Nobody is going to judge you for using out-of-season candles.
Oil lamps and lanterns are very pretty and can provide a surprising amount of light. If you go that route, be sure to stock up on lamp oil as well as extra wicks.
Glow Sticks
I like to add Cyalume SnapLights to the power outage supplies. They’re safe for kids and don’t require batteries or any sort of charging. Hang one in the bathroom, and it can make things easier for youngsters in particular.
While dollar stores have plenty of glow-in-the-dark products, Cyalume SnapLights are far brighter and last longer.
Solar Lights
These can be handy to have around during a power outage. Small solar-powered landscape lights have really come down in price in recent years. You can buy a set of them fairly cheaply. Set them outside in planter boxes and such near walkways. During the day, they absorb solar energy. At night, they use that energy to light up your front walk or whatever.
If the power goes out, you can bring them inside and use them to light up various parts of the home. Set them in vases or prop them up with a small stack of books. They won’t last all night long, but they’ll do great for ambient lighting through the evening.
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