Best tools and supplies to have on hand for a power outage
By BestReviewsChristina Marfice,
23 days ago
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These supplies will help you endure a power outage
A power outage is one of those things that can be either a minor inconvenience or a life-threatening emergency — and can quickly turn from one to the other. As climate change makes extreme and unpredictable weather more common across the entire U.S., it’s also something everyone should be prepared for; a government report showed that the average U.S. electricity consumer had seven hours of power interruptions in 2021.
Luckily, you can ready yourself to ride out a power outage without spending a lot of money. All it takes is a few key supplies — batteries, flashlights , lamps , a good headlamp , power banks and maybe a generator , especially if you live somewhere you might experience an extended blackout, like a part of the coast affected by tropical storms and hurricanes. But keep in mind that even those who live inland aren’t necessarily insulated from risk. During this year’s particularly bad tornado season in the Midwest, some of my family members experienced outages that lasted up to a week — multiple times.
Below, we have recommendations for some of the items everyone should have on hand in case of an emergency. These products can help you keep devices charged, prevent food from spoiling and provide power for space heaters and fans while you wait out a natural disaster or major weather event.
Tools and supplies everyone should have on hand in case of a power outage
This portable gas generator is compact, lightweight and portable, with lots of easy-to-use features — earning it our best-of-the-best rating . It can run for up to 12 hours on a tank of fuel with enough power for your important appliances.
A good headlamp can provide light in an outage while keeping your hands free. This one is affordable but high quality, with multiple brightness settings and an adjustable tilt on the lamp.
This two-pack of portable USB chargers offers the best bang for your buck, according to BestReviews testers , thanks to their compact size and inputs for both USB-C and micro USB.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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