Are you prepared for a power outage? Perhaps you’ve got food that doesn’t require cooking, or maybe you’ve got a stash of books to read. If the power is only out for a few hours, you probably won’t need much else. By the time you take a nap or finish cleaning, the power will be restored.
However, if the power goes out for an extended period of time, you’ll get tired of your books and you’ll probably wish you had some real food.
Preparing for a power outage is easy when you aren’t trying to recreate your usual standard of living. You really don’t need anything fancy. However, there are some gadgets you’ll enjoy having.
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A fire pit table
Without television or the internet, a power outage is an excellent opportunity to connect with friends and family. Unless you’re all going to eat protein bars for every meal, you’ll probably be cooking outside on the barbecue.
Instead of eating your meals inside, get a fire pit table and eat outside. Even if you’re just grilling up some snacks, a fire pit table will make an excellent addition to your backyard barbecues. People will have a flat surface to set their food, and they can munch a little and then wander around to socialize.
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A Jackery power bank
When the power goes out, you might need to charge your laptop, phone, iPod, or tablet. If you rely on a device for work or school, having a power bank will ensure you can still get your work done.
There are a lot of power banks on the market, but Jackery seems to be the best in terms of all-around value for your money. The units are easy to carry, the ports are easily accessible, and they come in a large variety of power capabilities.
You can get a decent Jackery for around $200, which will power your smartphones and laptops. If you need more power, you can get whatever you need from their line of products. They have at least 6 different models to choose from, and they may add more in the future.
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A handheld bidet
For those who are used to having a bidet attachment on their toilet, a power outage will be a big inconvenience. If you normally use a bidet attachment, you’ll want to have a manual, battery operated bidet available.
There are many different types of bidets available and some are better than others. Handheld wands with a water reservoir are the easiest to use because they can just be put on a shelf when you’re done. However, they don’t produce much pressure and you don’t really get the best spray.
The ideal bidet for a power outage is a bucket of water with a spray hose attached to a battery-powered pump. It won’t be the warm water you’re used to, but the spray power won’t disappoint.
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A manual carpet sweeper
You won’t realize how much you rely on your vacuum cleaner until the power goes out and you need to clean up a mess. Don’t waste your generator fuel on a vacuum cleaner. Just get a manual carpet sweeper instead.
The best sweepers are made for commercial use in offices, but you can find some cheaper, battery-powered carpet sweepers online. If you have kids or pets, you may want to get the commercial product to avoid disappointment with the smaller versions.
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A heavy-duty rocket stove
Without power, you won’t be able to cook like you’re used to cooking. You’ll be stuck cooking with charcoal, unless you have a rocket stove.
However, don’t just grab the first rocket stove you find online. Most “rocket stoves” are nothing more than a glorified miniature fire ring that won’t really hold a real pot or pan.
While cooking on any rocket stove is a little different than cooking on a real stove inside, some stoves create a more familiar experience. For example, the Silverfire Survivor rocket stove has a heavy-duty cast iron top for full-sized pots and pans.
The stove itself is heavy, durable, and sturdy so you can boil full pots of water and cook meals in a large pan.
This particular rocket stove is also insulated, which keeps the heat where you need it most. Best of all, it’s powered by twigs for fuel and burns clean.
Prepare ahead of time
These are just some ideas for how to make life easier when there is no power. Only you know what you’ll need for a prolonged outage. Regardless, get what you need ahead of time so you don’t have to struggle at the last minute.