Light and communication without power: flashlights, radios, power banks

When the lights go out, many people’s first reflex is to look for candles. But candles are one of the common causes of fires during power cuts. And the second problem, far more serious, is information: without power there’s no internet, the TV is off, and after a few hours the mobile network may go down too. Here’s how to keep the light on and stay connected.

Light

Flashlights

• One flashlight for each person in the home. Everyone should know where theirs is, ideally by the bed.
• Head torches are the most practical: they leave your hands free when cooking, carrying things or giving first aid.
• Lumens: 100 to 300 is enough indoors; outdoors, 500 or more.
• Standardize batteries: if every device uses AA (or AAA), you only need one type of spare.

Room lanterns

A flashlight lights a spot. An LED camping lantern lights a whole room and can stay on for hours. Hang it high, from the ceiling light or a cupboard, for even light. An old trick: stand a flashlight facing up under a full bottle of water; the water spreads the light.

Candles, only if you have nothing else

If you use them, put them in stable holders, away from curtains, books and children, and never leave them burning when you leave the room or go to sleep.

Information: the radio

During a crisis, authorities broadcast instructions by radio, TV, phone alerts and official websites. When the internet and TV are down, a battery radio is the only reliable source.

• Choose a radio with FM and AM. AM waves travel much further.
• Ideally with several power sources: batteries, hand crank, solar panel and USB.
• Write down the frequencies of your public broadcaster and local emergency stations.

Your phone: keeping it alive for days

• Turn on battery saver or airplane mode when you don’t need the network.
• Lower brightness and close background apps.
• Use texts instead of calls: they use less battery and get through a busy network more easily.
• Download offline maps of your town and the routes to your meeting points.
• Save copies of documents and your contact list on the phone, offline.
• Keep one or two power banks charged (10,000 to 20,000 mAh each).

When the mobile network goes down

Mobile masts usually have batteries for a few hours. After that, some go down. What to do:

• Emergency calls take priority: they can often be carried by any available network.
• Use your out-of-town contact from the family plan.
• Go to the meeting point agreed in advance if you can’t reach your family.
• License-free walkie-talkies (PMR446 in Europe, FRS in the US) can keep family members in touch over short distances, from a few hundred meters to 1 or 2 km depending on terrain.

Checklist

• A flashlight for each person, by the bed
• One or two LED lanterns for rooms
• Spare batteries of the same type
• A battery or crank radio, with frequencies written down
• One or two charged power banks
• Offline maps downloaded on phones
• Important contacts written on paper