What lights do you need for a power outage?
The worst moment of an outage is the first minute: the fridge goes quiet, the room goes black and everyone reaches for a phone. A small kit, kept in one known place, turns that minute into ten seconds.
The rule of rooms and people
- One lantern for every room you live in during an outage — kitchen, bathroom, one bedroom — plus a spare.
- One flashlight per person, plus one in the car.
- Keep them together, in a drawer or bin everyone in the house can find in the dark.
Lanterns for staying, flashlights for moving
A lantern set on the table lights faces, plates and the stairs at once. A flashlight is for the trip to the breaker panel or the basement. Our collapsible lanterns pull up to glow and push down to switch off, so a child can work them in the dark.
Power that outlasts the storm
| Power source | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in rechargeable cell | Short outages, everyday use | Charge it monthly so it is full when needed |
| Solar panel | Multi-day outages | Needs a sunny windowsill |
| AA / AAA batteries | The last line, any length of outage | Keep a sealed spare pack in the kit |
Once a season, on the day you test the smoke alarms, switch every lantern and flashlight on for a minute. It is the whole maintenance plan.
Where to keep the kit
Near the middle of the house, not in the garage: somewhere you can reach from every room without stairs. Put one flashlight by each bed as well — outages love the middle of the night.