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The basics
Modern LED lights changed everything. A good LED lantern runs 50–200+ hours on one set of batteries, stays cool to the touch, and can't start a fire. Aim for:
- A headlamp for every person. Hands-free light for cooking, the bathroom, the stairs and repairs. Keep one at every bed.
- One LED lantern per room you'll use, plus one spare. Lanterns light a whole room; flashlights only light a spot.
- A bright flashlight for checking outside and finding things.
- Solar garden lights — a cheap, clever trick. Leave them outside during the day, and bring them in at night as nightlights for hallways and bathrooms.
- Glow sticks for kids, marking stairs and pets' collars.
Batteries
Stick to one or two battery sizes (usually AA and AAA, or one rechargeable type) so every device can share them.
| Type | Shelf life | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Alkaline | 7–10 years | general use, kits |
| Lithium (AA/AAA "lithium," not lithium-ion) | 15–20 years; great in cold | car kits, go-bags, cold garages |
| Rechargeable NiMH (e.g. "low self-discharge") | holds charge about a year | everyday use with a solar charger |
| Built-in lithium-ion (USB-rechargeable lights) | depends on charging | pair with power banks or solar |
Store batteries at room temperature, out of devices (or with the device's battery cover reversed) so they don't leak. Write the purchase date on the package.
How many? Look up each light's runtime, decide how many hours a night you'll use it (often 4–6), and multiply by the days you want to cover. For two weeks, two or three full sets per light is a good start.
Candles, oil lamps and fuel lanterns
Fire risk
The U.S. Fire Administration and Red Cross recommend flashlights instead of candles during outages. If you must use candles or oil lamps: put them in sturdy holders on a non-flammable surface, keep them away from curtains, kids and pets, and never leave them burning when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Oil (kerosene or paraffin) hurricane lamps give warm light but burn fuel, make soot and fumes, and need ventilation.
- Propane and white-gas lanterns are very bright but are for outdoors only — they produce carbon monoxide.
- A candle set in front of a mirror or a piece of foil throws noticeably more light.
Tips for a dark house
- Make a "light station" by the door to your home-base room: lanterns, headlamps and spare batteries in one bin.
- Use the lowest brightness setting you can. It can triple battery life.
- Wrap a headlamp around a clear water jug, light facing in: the water spreads the beam into a soft lantern that lights the whole table.
- Put reflective tape or glow-in-the-dark tape on stair edges, the breaker panel and the flashlight drawer.
Sources: Ready.gov — Power Outages · American Red Cross — Power Outage Safety · U.S. Fire Administration — Candle fire safety