Lighting Needs
It goes without saying that we don’t want to be left in the dark when the sun goes down. Everything gets a little unsure and
uneasiness creeps up on us in the darkness, not to mention, sometimes we still have work to do when its dark out, especially during
an emergency.
Your lighting needs should be addressed in both short-term needs as well as long-term solutions. Having a
flashlight and a few extra batteries may get you through the first couple of nights but what happens when your batteries start to
run out? You might think that simply having a backup generator will solve all of your lighting needs and you’re right, as long
as its running. But, depending on one piece of equipment to provide all of your lighting needs is a recipe for yet another disaster. There are any number of reasons that your generator may not be running. It may be damaged, break down or be unsafe to run for
fear of drawing too much attention to yourself.
Lighting Options
There is a multitude of emergency lighting on the
market and simply purchasing a few flashlights and throwing them in a drawer won’t provide all the light you need in an emergency. The fact is that we cannot predict how long a power outage or other disaster will last so we have to plan for several contingencies. Time is the key factor when strategizing your lighting plan. How long do you want to prepare for? If its just a couple
of days then some flashlights might do the trick but, if you want to plan for a longer outage, you will have to look at all options.
Candles
Having
a selection of candles on hand can certainly come in handy during a power outage. You can store many of them in plain sight
since they can be very decorative. There are also several types of candles that are designed for emergency use. They burn
longer and don’t take up a lot of valuable storage space.
The draw back to using candles is the obvious fire hazard. For this reason, it is best to only use candles with wide bases and
place them where they can’t be knocked over. Keep all other combustibles away from the lighted candle and consider not using
candles at all if there are small children in the home.
Flashlights and Headlamps
Having a few good quality LED flashlights is typically one of the first steps to disaster preparedness. Its also wise to have a good quality head lamp as part of your supplies. This gives you the opportunity to have hands free directed
light. Keeping one in your automobile is also a good idea since most auto emergencies require some sort of repair or other activity
that involves the use of both hands. Be sure to store plenty of batteries. The good news is that good quality batteries
have a 10-year shelf life but the bad news is that they tend to be expensive and storing enough batteries for extended use can be
problematic. Having some rechargeable batteries and a method to charge them, along with another source of light that does not require
battery power at all is a good idea.
Another worthy addition to your lighting supplies is a good quality wind-up flashlight and even better if you get one with solar charging
capability as well. There are some models that have a combination flashlight, emergency radio and phone charger. This
satisfies three needs in one package.
Be sure to stash flashlights in your bug out bags, vehicle supplies, evacuation supplies and, of course, around your home.
Rechargeable lanterns are a step in the right direction when it come to a more sustainable source of light as long as you have a method
to charge the batteries. Lanterns with solar chargers are a great option but beware of cheap models that tend to break after
very little use. Hand crank lanterns are also very useful when no batteries are available, and it gives you peace if mind to
know that you will always have light when you need it. The only drawback is that cranking the lantern takes some time and the
charge doesn’t last very long (about 10 min. of light for every 1 min of crank time). The good news is that some models are
rechargeable via your automobile accessory outlet or cigarette lighter as well as USB charger and solar.
Lanterns
Camping or emergency lanterns will surly find their way to your shelf when prepping. There are a lot of types
to choose from so let’s go back to the fundamental question of time. Lanterns with disposable batteries are certainly useful
for short-term use (as long as your batteries hold out) and its easy to store enough batteries for a couple of weeks of outage but
sooner or later it becomes impractical to store too many batteries. That having been said, battery-operated lanterns should
definitely be a part of your equipment. They are easy to operate and quick to press into service during those times when light
in a hurry is critical.
Propane and white gas lanterns can be ideal for lighting areas of your home in an emergency. They are brighter than battery
operated lanterns and even produce some heat. The real drawback to these lanterns is that the mantels become very fragile once
used so you will have to have a pretty good supply of extra mantels on hand.
Oil and Kerosene Lamps
Oil lamps are a fact of life for many off-gridders because they are dependable and fairly inexpensive
to use. They come in a variety of different shapes and sizes for both indoor and outdoor use. You can use lamp oil or kerosene
in these lamps but do not use red kerosene that has been dyed for identification as off road use only. The dyes in this kerosene
create toxic fumes that make it unsafe to use indoors so use only 1-K clear kerosene for your indoor uses. The notable difference
between lamp oil and kerosene are the costs and the odor when burned. Lamp oil is more refined and burns cleanerand has less
odor but is considerably more expensive than kerosene (up to 10 times more expensive). On the other hand, if you don’t mind
the odor, kerosene is much cheaper and readily available. In addition, if you are using a kerosene heater as an emergency heat
source, you can use the same fuel in the heater and kerosene lamps.
LP Gas Lights
If you’re looking for a more permanent solution to your emergency lighting needs, you might want to look into installing
some LP gas lights. These lights are usually installed on a wall but there are ceiling mount chandelier models available. The propane is supplied via gas line from a tank located on the exterior of the home. If you already use liquid propane for
cooking, heating or hot water, you can use pipe into the same gas line and use your current propane tank.
Solar Lights
Happily, solar technology is getting better and every time you turn around a new solar product is coming out. This is good news for the prepper because solar energy is free and renewable. The cost of solar energy gathering systems is
also coming down, making this a favorite option for preppers. We explore solar energy more in depts in the Alternative Power
section but here we will discuss some portable solar lighting options.
Aside from the solar charged flashlights and lantern discussed
earlier, there some larger, yet still portable, options available that can provide emergency light for your home with an investment
as little as $150. These systems come with an external solar panel(s), a rechargeable battery unit and some DC lights. You can also recharge your electronics with these devices.
Another good tip for preppers is to visit your local hardware store landscape lighting section. You can often find cheap solar
landscape lights that you can charge outside during the day and use for interior emergency lighting. There are also area lights
available that have an external solar panel that can be placed in the sun and run the wire into the house for renewable emergency
light.
