Lighting in a power outage
When the power fails, flashlights become essential. You'll need light to move safely, find supplies, read instructions, and comfort family members.
Types of flashlights
Battery-powered flashlight
- Most common and reliable
- Check that it works before an emergency
- Keep extra batteries on hand
- Store in an accessible location
Wind-up flashlight
- No batteries required
- Charge by turning a crank for 30–60 seconds
- Good for backups and go-bags
- Less powerful than battery-powered, but better than nothing
- Check that the crank mechanism works
Hybrid models
- Wind-up + rechargeable battery + USB charging
- More expensive but versatile
What not to use
- Candles: Risk of fire, especially if you're tired or stressed
- Lighters: Unreliable, hard to manage
- Phones only: Drains your battery quickly when you need it for emergencies
Storing batteries
Best practices
- Keep in a cool, dry place away from metal objects (which can cause shorts)
- Store with the positive end facing up for better performance
- Separate loose batteries from flashlights (batteries discharge slowly over time)
- Check expiry dates on battery packaging
- Buy common sizes: AA and AAA cover most household devices
Battery types
- Alkaline: Standard, affordable, long shelf life, good for flashlights
- Lithium: More expensive, very long shelf life, work better in cold
- Rechargeable: Only if you have a hand-crank charger or solar charger (won't work without power)
How many batteries?
A general guideline:
- Per person: 2–3 sets of batteries for a 72-hour emergency
- Household of 4: 8–12 sets of extra batteries (AA and AAA mixed)
- One or two flashlights: Per person, at minimum
This sounds like a lot, but batteries are small and last years. Start with a pack of 12–16 AA and 12–16 AAA batteries in your emergency supply.
Maintenance and rotation
Twice a year (during seasonal time changes):
- Test all flashlights to make sure they work
- Replace dead batteries immediately
- Rotate old batteries into regular use (use the oldest first)
- Replace the newest batteries in your emergency supply
Annual replacement:
- Buy one pack of new batteries each year to replenish your supply
In the dark
- Tape a flashlight to the ceiling pointing down to create ambient light without holding it
- Place a flashlight at the edge of a room to help people move safely
- Keep a small flashlight by your bed for immediate access if the power fails at night
- Have one on each floor of your home
See also: Power banks and charging phones and first hours of a power outage.