New lighting technology has made power outages less severe. Formerly a tool of campers and hikers, new LED and fluorescent lighting can now be used for weather emergencies. Often, after a hurricane or severe thunderstorm, power is not restored in an area for an extended period of time. Each light listed below can last for a very extended period of time and are a great addition to any emergency weather kit. I personally own three of the following lights and have had experience with each of them. Here are my favorite choices for the lanterns and lights that will keep you out of the dark.
1. Energizer Weather Ready Fluorescent Lantern Flashlight
This lantern runs on 4 D Energizer MAX Batteries and features a run time of up to 30 hours on just one set of batteries. This lamp is capable of running on a 12V DC adapter (Great for camp sites with electric hook-ups). The 7 watt fluorescent bulb is capable of fully illuminating an entire room. Reading and playing board games are easy with this light even when all the power is out. It is my most recommended light because of the brightness and the styling. It has a tough plastic exterior which keeps it sturdy enough to withstand long term storage and more than a few bumps in the dark as you search for it!
2. Energizer Weather Ready Waterproof Floating Lantern
Although this light is listed by the manufacturer for boating and marine use, I find it very well suited for emergency weather use. Especially in the event of a hurricane, the often wet conditions might make this flashlight a great emergency kit addition. And, in the event of a flood, these lights can float. The beam of light is not as good for room illumination because it is more focused, but it is indeed very powerful. When you need to see in the dark using a focused beam, this one stands out as a great choice.3. Energizer Weather Ready Folding LED Lantern
Another Weather Ready light I have is a folding variety. The light lasts for a very long time and I have yet to change the batteries in the one I own. The beam can be more focused (flashlight style) or more of a 360 degree illumination for lighting up a darkened room. This is the one I actually take camping in the tent. The Compare prices icon shows several differences in the lantern prices because you can buy them with or without the batteries as well as in multi-packs. I do recommend you purchase the one with the batteries included because of the (often) high price of D type batteries.4. Jeep Flashlights with TV and Radio Functions
I have to admit I am a big Jeep fan and I love this flashlight for several reasons. I have never seen the one with the included TV tuner, but the AM/FM radio version does get good reception. The flashlight is powerful and very focused. The bonus with this unit is you can get instant and up-to-date NOAA Severe Weather Alerts. The twin tube of fluorescent lights means one burn out will not keep you in the dark. It is a great choice for your vehicle emergency kit.5. Stormtracker Rechargeable Spotlight and Radio
This intense spotlight is great for weather emergencies because of the included NOAA Weather Alert functions and a electrical plug in adapter. The secondary or back-up lights are LED allowing for a long life and the halogen spotlight is bright enough to cut through the darkest night. One of the only reasons this is not a first choice is in evaluating the ability to illuminate a room, this one is not the top choice. I personally have a separate weather radio. (To me an all-in-one unit may not be the best choice for weather emergencies because of the possibilities of breaks or dead batteries.)6. Personal Compact LED Emergency Light and Siren
The last product I am recommending is for a slightly different purpose. This small LED light is hand-held and extremely portable. Since a severe storm could happen anywhere at any time, this is great to have around and possibly in your purse or car. First, it is cheap enough to keep several around the house. Second, the piercing siren can be a great beacon to alert others of an emergency. For instance, being trapped in a room of a house after a tornado may bring the need for such a device. And finally, the size of the unit makes it able to be slipped into any handy cabinet or drawer in the house for immediate access.