Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest and does not present a fire hazard for the user, occupants, or building. Avoid using candles. Candles can easily cause fires. They are quiet and easily forgotten. They can tip over during earthquake aftershocks or in a gust of wind.
Candles invite fire play by children.
More than three times as many people have died in residential fires caused by using candles after a disaster than from the direct impact of the disaster itself. Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces or electrical appliances. Fire is the most frequent hazard following floods. Check for gas leaks.