Power Outage Preparation

I bought an LED lantern about 4-5 years ago, and it's the best! When the lights went out after Superstorm Sandy, I had plenty of light to read by. I also have some of those flat LED lights that have 27 LEDs on the flat side and 3 on the end. They have a magnet on the back, and fold-out hanging clip. Since I have metal cabinets in the kitchen and the bathroom, I have one of those stuck on a cabinet in each room, and they also were handy when the lights went out. There was just enough light to see by when using the bathroom, and fixing a meal on the kitchen counter.

I love the fact that LED lanterns and flashlights free me from worry about candles causing a fire. When I was a kid my mother used to stick candles onto saucers with a drop or two of melted wax, and they stood upright until they burned down, but we always had to be so careful around them. LEDs are so much better! My lantern even has a dial to make the light brighter or dimmer, and I found that it gives plenty of light when set about halfway. I always make sure to have extra batteries for these lights, too.

My window Christmas lights are battery operated. I keep fresh batteries in them at all times because they are wonderful for power outages. Don't forget those outside garden lights, powered by sunshine.

Keep a few in a pot on your front porch to keep them charged. When the power goes off, bring the garden lights inside to place around the house.