In an emergency, it is common to lose power. Power can be lost for several days. Flashlights provide a safe, reliable light source. Candles, kerosene heaters and other light sources can be hazardous. Flashlights are convenient and more portable than emergency lanterns, making it easier to maneuver inside or outside a house. They are also powerful tools for alerting rescuers to your presence. This is particularly true with flashlights that have emergency strobe SOS features.
In the last 50 years, there have been several record-breaking blackouts and power outages. The most recent mass power outages have been due to extreme weather. For example, Superstorm Sandy and Storm Alfred both battered the Northeast, causing billions of dollars worth of damage and knocking out power for several weeks, respectively.
In both instances, the storms were unexpected. Sandy veered off of its projected path, hitting New York and New Jersey the hardest with flooding, wind and rain. Alfred was a late October snowstorm that hit Connecticut while there were still leaves on the trees. The weight of the snow toppled thousands of trees, taking down power lines with them. No one was prepared for either Sandy or Alfred. When the power went out, millions of people were left in the dark in extremely perilous situations. Now, we know the importance of having emergency supply kits ready, including having plenty of reliable flashlights and extra batteries. Extreme weather cannot always be predicted, but preparedness is up to us.