Power Banks and Phone Charging

Why phones matter in emergencies

Your phone is your lifeline to emergency services, family, and information. Keeping it charged during a power outage is critical.

Power banks

What to buy

• Capacity: 10,000–20,000 mAh (milliamp-hours) is a good balance
• Input ports: USB-C and/or Micro-USB (match your phone's charger)
• Multiple USB-A ports: Can charge more than one device at once
• LED indicator: Shows how much charge remains
• Compact design: Fits in a bag or backpack

How many?

• One per person in your household (minimum)
• Two to three if you have teens or multiple devices
• Each can charge a phone 1–3 times depending on capacity and phone size

Keeping them charged

• Charge your power banks monthly (mark it on a calendar or during seasonal time changes)
• Store in a cool place away from heat
• Keep away from moisture (seal in a waterproof bag if in a damp location)
• Don't let them fully drain during storage (charge to 50–80%)

Using a power bank

1. Plug the power bank into your phone using the correct USB cable
2. The power bank will begin charging automatically
3. Check the LED indicator to see when your phone is full
4. Unplug both devices when done
5. Recharge the power bank when it's empty

Phone chargers

What to keep

• One charger per phone model in your household
• USB chargers: Most universal, work with any USB-compatible device
• Car chargers: Useful if you're sheltering in a vehicle
• Cable spares: Keep extra charging cables (they fail more often than chargers)

Storage tips

• Keep chargers in your emergency kit or nearby
• Label each cable with the device it fits (USB-C, Micro-USB, Lightning, etc.)
• Check cables for damage twice a year

Hand-crank and solar chargers

Hand-crank chargers

• Manually wind a crank to generate electricity
• Slow but requires no batteries or power
• Useful for extended outages
• Can charge a phone 5–10% per minute of cranking
• Heavy use of arms and wrists

Solar chargers

• Charge during daylight hours
• Slow but free after purchase
• Work only if you have direct sunlight
• Most useful in combination with a power bank

When to use them

• Use power banks first (faster, easier)
• Hand-crank and solar chargers as backup for outages lasting days

Phone tips during an outage

• Turn off data and WiFi to reduce battery drain
• Reduce screen brightness to extend battery life
• Use airplane mode except when you need to make calls
• Close unnecessary apps running in the background
• Turn off location services
• Disable automatic email/message sync

Communication during outages

• Text instead of calling (uses less data and is more likely to get through when networks are congested)
• Use WiFi calling if available and you have internet via a backup generator or mobile hotspot
• Contact family using a predetermined plan rather than calling to check in multiple times

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See also: First hours of a power outage and flashlights and batteries.