How to stay plugged in during a Power Outage

 Electronic gadgets make life easier in a lot of ways. But when power sources falter, as they do for nearly 2 million people in the United States after massive storms and hurricanes hit, digital communication tools can become useless at a crucial time.

Whether the problem is losing the ability to talk and text on a cellphone or suddenly being without news sources when the juice in a tablet or laptop fizzles out, our increasingly digital lives mean dealing with darkness and rough weather aren't our only concerns when the power's out.

Nothing is going to make an extended power outage easy. But here are 5 items to consider should you find yourself powered down by Mother Nature.

1. Hand-crank Radio

Listening to the radio for the news might seem decidedly old-school for the Twitter-and-tablet obsessed news junkie of the digital age. But when all else fails, the tried-and-true radio waves can be a valuable way to keep up with local weather and other news in the event of an outage, especially when you can power it up when all your other electronics fail.

Product to buy:

The Hand Crank Emergency Radio is a Raynic Solar emergency hand-crank radio powered AM/FM/SW/NOAA with a flashlight, reading lamp, cellphone charger and SOS Alarm. Or you can get a similar radio with a dog whistle!

Hand crank power ensures you always have enough juice when the power is not available. Keep an Emergency Radio in the emergency supply kit in the car and house, and one in the tent for use at the campsite. A switch on the front of the emergency radio lets you easily alternate between the FM radio and weather band features. The weather band radio connects to a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office.

Emergency radios can also charge basic cell phones, power an 85-decibel emergency alarm, and works as a flashlight too. Hand cranking for just one minute will provide up to 30 minutes of light, 10 minutes of radio, and 3 minutes of emergency alarm. Crank for 3 minutes of cranking time can power a cell phone for 2-10 minutes. Times vary with different products.

2. Battery charger

When communication is vital, one more phone call or text message could be critical. So, whether it's just recharging long enough to do that, or hoping to literally weather the storm for longer, a backup charger can keep you plugged in (figuratively, if not literally).

A portable power source, from Powky, has a 200-watt portable power bank with AC outlet for camping (42000mAh Power Supply for CPAP), 2 AC Ports, 4 USB Ports, 2 DC Port capable of powering lamps, phones, laptops, TVs, printers, fans, car pumps, toast maker, coffee machine and even mini-fridges

You can take it wherever you go and never run out of power. Ideal for travel, home or office use. In Hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters, it is A very good home emergency power supply. Rely on 4 fully visible LED indicators to monitor the remaining battery. The built-in fan will out automatically to cool down the battery during charging to prevent this from happening and prolong the overall lifespan of the power bank.

3. Light source

Of course, you should have flashlights and fresh batteries around.

But finding them in the dark can be its own challenge. And, sometimes, you just need a steady source of light, not one you have to tote around. There are battery-powered lights like the LED Emergency Light/Lantern featuring an array of high-quality LEDs in white and red, and a built-in hanger enabling this LED lantern to be used in a variety of situations for both recreational and emergency use.

The potential uses of this light are endless. It can be bent, folded, and wrapped/hooked around objects. The user can place it on a flat surface for use as a freestanding light, or adhere it to most metal surfaces for convenient use. The bright light beams exactly where you need it to, providing maximum visibility.

This is super light, waterproof and collapsible which is perfect for the boat.

4. Power Inverter

If you need to power up something a little bigger than a phone, a power inverter might be a useful tool. If you want to be able to use a laptop or desktop computer during an outage, this may be the way to go.

A power Inverter can be used to convert DC power from your car battery into AC juice that can be used for things usually plugged into a wall outlet.

The Giandel 5000 Watt heavy-duty power inverter converts DC 12 V to 110V-120V AC upgraded version with hardwire terminals to provide 5000W continuous power and 10,000W peak power, featuring 4xAC outlets and LCD display, 2x2.4A USB port, with Remote controller and four pairs of strong cables. There are different sizes available as well.

Great for camping, boating, cars, and vacuuming!

5. Gas Power Generator

Generators may seem a bit scary but are actually easy to use. Power Boss Generator is a long-running and reliable tool that can keep anyone in control of their power needs up to 7000 Watt.

With increasing home power outages, no longer are generators for contractors and campers alone. In fact, a generator can keep a family protected from harm and save thousands of dollars in damage.

I have found all these items on Amazon, so you can find them. But you can also see other types of tools as well for comparison.

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