Best Home Emergency Kit Gear (2023): Flashlights, Stoves, Chargers, and More

When using alkaline batteries, remove them from the flashlight when not in use for a long time, otherwise they will leak and cause problems. Keep them near the flashlight so you can find them easily. Try gluing the batteries to the flashlight cylinder.

Pro Tip: The most powerful flashlights are built specifically to use lithium-ion batteries or have non-removable rechargeable batteries that won’t do you any good if the power goes out for an extended period of time. Rechargeable Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) AA batteries maintain their performance better over the life of the battery, while alkaline batteries’ performance degrades more with depletion, so buy some Panasonic Eneloops for $41. They’re better for the environment, but when they run out you can still use regular alkaline AAs.

You may prefer to have a headlamp handy. the Petzl Actik for $40 is my favorite model and has never let me down, from snowy mountains to dusty deserts. It runs on three easy-to-find AAA batteries and has three brightness settings, the brightest of which is more than enough for around-the-house emergencies.

A lantern

Coleman has discontinued our previous favorite, the Divide+ Push Lantern Coleman 4D LED Lantern for $19 is the next best choice for little money. Flashlights do a poor job when you need to light up an entire room or when you need your hands free for a task. This simple lantern offers a single setting of 54 lumens with a 175 hour runtime on four D-cell batteries. That sounds like a lot, but it’s economical alongside other full-fledged battery-powered lanterns like the Coleman Twin LED eight-D cell lantern. 54 lumens isn’t what I’d call bright, but it’s bright enough for most tasks, even reading, while conserving battery life.

If you want to conserve batteries or just want to hang out by the softly flickering candlelight, keep a spare candle or two on hand for emergencies. the Coghlan’s 36 Hour Survival Candle for $10 has three wicks that last 12 hours each. Keep a lighter or some matches nearby.

A water purifier

Most of the time, your water supply will work even if the power goes out. But major natural disasters can knock it out or damage it, and you could end up with dirty water. the Grayl Ultralight Compact Purifier Bottle for $81 is a strong and fast one-person filter that lasts 300 uses – 40 gallons total – before you need to replace the filter. This is what I trust when I travel to countries where water hygiene is not guaranteed.