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Prep for power outages: 10 items to stash in your home, from Anker to Yeti
Folks who live in the path of Atlantic hurricanes should take notice: Experts are predicting an "extremely active" season this year. Ugh, right? The high winds and torrential rains are truly a summer buzzkill, but being unprepared for a power outage makes it all that much worse. Have you ever hunted in the dark for a portable charger? Or opened every junk drawer in your house to find batteries that actually work? Talk about nobody's idea of fun. Before hurricane season starts (on June 1, by the way!), take a few minutes to get your home propped and prepped in case you lose power.
One quick Amazon order is all you need to sufficiently set up your home to handle a few hours — or even a few days — without power. You'll thank us later for the reminder — and for the list below, which includes items as small as a $20 portable phone charger and as large as a $649 generator. Add what you need to your Amazon cart ASAP, then breathe a sigh of relief; you're ready for anything.
If you buy only one item to prep for a power outage, make it this 6-inch crank-operated flashlight-charger hybrid. All you have to do is crank it for 60 seconds to generate 10 minutes of light or to give your phone a quick boost. Since it's only 10 bucks, you might want to grab a couple and stash them in strategic locations.
More than 73,000 (!) Amazon shoppers give this charger a flawless five-star rating. It's compatible with all versions of the iPhone 15, 14 and 13, plus the Samsung Galaxy. We think it's a no-brainer.
These flashlights are tough, waterproof and extra bright, which makes them perfect for navigating those basement stairs home in the dark. The beam is "zoomable," so you can target specific areas. With more than 60,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this pair can be counted on to light the way. Each needs one AAA battery.
If you're worried about keeping batteries handy (or fresh) for traditional flashlights in case of emergency, snap up his trio of LED rechargeables. You can keep them plugged into outlets so they're always ready (and easy to find) when you need them.
If your batteries are stored in less-than-ideal conditions (say, rolling around loose in a drawer?) and there's no telling how old or powerful they are, well, we've got the fix. The Battery Daddy ("As Seen on TV") neatly holds up to 180 batteries, including odd sizes like D and 9-volt, so you'll always know exactly where those AAAs are when you need them. Even better, this crisp organizer has a battery tester built in. Problem solved.
Yes, this Yeti cooler is a major splurge — but if you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can preserve perishables from the fridge and freezer for a good long time, it might be an investment worth making. And the rest of the time you have a top-of-the-line cooler for parties, picnics and cookouts.
Want the big guns? This portable power station should do the trick. You can plug practically anything into it, including your fridge! The unit itself can be solar charged or can plug into an outlet to juice up (make sure it's loaded and ready to go in case of emergency). For a limited time, you can use the on-page coupon to save $350 on this Explorer 1000 model, bringing the price down to $649.
Power outages don't just strike when it's cold. This 8-by-10-inch rechargeable camping fan will help keep you cool come summertime if the AC goes out. When fully juiced, it can run from 8 to 36 hours. The lantern feature operates at three levels: dim, medium and bright. It's small enough to tuck away on a closet shelf, and available in a range of colors.
A Shark Tank special, the Comfy is the perfect backup for families who depend on space heaters when it's cold. Should the power go out, everyone will be cozy in their own wearable blanket. One size fits all, and there are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from. We're willing to bet these super-warm garments get plenty of use during non-emergencies too.
Can't live without your programs, even for a few hours? We're with ya! Grab this portable LCD TV — with a cute 7-inch screen — while it's under $80. It can provide up to four hours of viewing in a "TV emergency." It's compatible with Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Firestick and more — and you can even connect it to your computer. Be sure to charge this little guy periodically, so it's ready when you need it.
