Our lights go out so often - I get too angry to be too disoriented! We have so many sizes and different kinds of flashlights sitting next to bed, behind the sofa, right inside the bathroom door, places like that. We even have a few on lanyards. What is absolutely wonderful are the little touch LED lights. They are cheap, and give off alot of light. This isn't the brand I have, but the type in the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lights

No, but I'm used to it because we lose power fairly frequently in bad weather. We were out for six days during the October snowstorm, when we got dumped with 16" of snow. But what I always find funny is how I continue to flip light switches out to habit!

I'd recommend buying a few of the plug-in LED lights that automatically turn on when the power goes out (see link below). I think we picked ours up at Costco. We have them all around the house so we have at least some light right away.

For folks who lose power frequently, I also recommend this Coleman lantern:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TS71NG/ref=oh_o00_s01_i00_details

It's super bright and you can remove each panel to carry around the house.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: LED Light

We also lose power frequently so are used to things suddenly going dark. CT is still cleaning up power lines, trees, etc. from the October storm.

Lars, I'd strongly recommend you forego the candles & get thyself flashlights, LEDs, battery-operated lanterns. Candles are dangerous.

It's been a rough day in the west.

/tricia

When the tornado came through in July we were without power for 18 hours. I do remember being a little disoriented, mostly because I can never find flashlight in this house! LOL

But I always have a stash of candles so we just lit a boatload of them and got thru the night.

Glad it wasn't an earthquake, Lars!

Linda

Thanks for the links! I'm definitely going to get some of those, but the LED link said they were unavailable, although I think I can find something similar. I don't want to be in the dark like that again, and having the LED lights would be a big help. Our front yard was lit because we have solar powered lights along the path. I have a Coleman lantern (in the garage with camping equipment), but not that large or bright. I guess I need a new one.

I did not find myself flicking light switches last night - partly because I was concentrating on keep the candles from falling over, but when I first moved into the house, I kept trying to turn the skylight off before leaving the house during the day.

I've never been without power for six days - the longest was 2-1/2 after the Northridge quake. I say 2-1/2 because at first we were in a brown-out condition, and we had two days of no electricity at all. The last hurricane I was in was Tropical Storm Felice, September 1970, and I don't remember being without electricity for very long (if at all), but at least we were expecting it and so were prepared. It wasn't a full-blown hurricane, but we thought it might turn into one.

Lars

Our power goes out a lot. I don't get disoriented because I sit tight while DH fumbles around, hehe.

Flashlights on either side of the bed, near our favorite chairs and in the kitchen. We have a couple of kerosene lamps and battery operated fluorescent lights, a bunch of candles in votive holders and a propane lantern that I never light because it hisses so loud. I need to add an LED lantern to our collection.

I bought an LED lantern after our last outage. I also bought some of those lights that you stick to a wall and push to turn on. I'll put those in closets and other small places.

I really find that a candle works better than anything although they make me nervous.

If I hear a storm is on its way I try to do what I can in advance, like charging the cell phone, doing laundry (in case it lasts a long time), etc. I also get the flashlights and candle to a spot where I can find them by groping.

Yes, I think I would be very disoriented if I was walking around and was suddenly plunged into blackness.

We were at a civic meeting last night about the SM airport when the power went out.

Went home and got out our flashlights. I lit a candle in the kitchen, which helped some.

No TV or internet, but we got the power back before bedtime.

Yes, it is disorienting to be in the pitch black, trying to feel your way around and remember where things are.

I was wondering what we could get as backup to heat the house if it happens again.

I also lose power often enough that I keep a flashlight by the bed, but I'm always slightly surprised when suddenly things are dark. Like Goldgirl, I reflexively flip light switches and for a moment wonder why they don't work.

I do camp, so I have Coleman camping lanterns, which will light up a small room like the bathroom and give enough light to read by. The real problem is losing power in the winter, that's when it's cold and dark.

It was sure a wild day in California today, wasn't it? I saw on the news that there were 97MPH wind gusts, it's amazing that you and Kevin didn't get blown to Michigan!

Annie

Lars you should have brought in the solar lights. I've got 2 hurricane lights that burn oil for long outages.

Since I camp a lot I've got all kinds of lighting things. But I do personally find a candle lantern or votive the nicest and easiest. They aren't dangerous if you use the kind that are encased in metal and glass and don't tip. I mean I wouldn't leave them unattended and I also have a good fire extinguisher in the house. Other than that, we have a big battery powered lantern, white gas lantern, and kerosene lanterns for longer situations. But honestly, lights out or not, with it getting dark so early I find myself just wanting to hibernate in the evenings anyway, so if the lights went out I'd probably just turn into bed early, lol!

Those LED lights that plug in and turn on automatically are wonderful. Put them in some key areas of the home (hallways, bathrooms, etc) but keep them out of your bedroom, unless you want to be woken up when the power goes out. They are bright enough so you won't stumble around and you'll be able to find whatever back up light method you choose.

While they are plug in lights, you should periodically unplug them, turn them on and drain the battery. The extends the life of the battery. I do this about once per month for maintenance.

I do think I need to get more votive lights - I don't think they are as dangerous as the tall skinny ones. I like that candles do not rely on batteries, but I do need to buy some matches. My stove is gas, but the pilots are electric.

Kevin was ready to turn in early as well, and he even said that he guessed he would get up when it got light outside, since the back-up battery in his alarm clock was dead.

I had to reprogram the thermostat, and I still do not have it right. I have it set too high, I think, as I have it now at 72 degrees for morning and evenings, and I think 71 is warm enough. Also, it is set now for 70 degrees for during the day when we are out, and I want to reduce that to 67 or 68, which would keep the heat off during the day most of the time. I would set it to 65, but I'm afraid there might be a cold day some time when I go home for lunch. I might try 65 degrees anyway - after Christmas and after I figure out the thermostat better.

Lars

"Where are you when the lights go out?" In the dark, of course (old joke, sorry)

Like others I keep flashlights all over.

I find myself using my cell phone when I get up in the middle of the night to find my slippers, bathrobe etc. so I don't turn on the bedside light to wake up hubs. I would use it to find flashlights in a blackout if there were buried in a different part of a drawer. I keep my cell phone near me 24/7. Some smart phones have a 'flashlight' app that lights up the entire screen, that would work too.

My son thought of this idea a few years ago and it was great --- we use those cheap glow necklaces. They put out quite a bit of light in a completely dark room. It's very convenient, too because you can just put one around your neck, it lights up whichever room you walk into, and your hands are free (not having to carry something like a flashlight or lantern). They are very inexpensive and last a long time if not activated, so we keep a pile of them in my pantry. Once activated, it lasts for several hours.

Another one here who gets disoriented if all suddenly goes black....I have those press lights in lots of places....my my bed, the computer and in the family room.....and I have "flame guns"...those candle lighters or fireplace starters all over too.
I have a panicky memory of a few years ago when the power went off, seemingly without reason, no storm or high winds.....and boom all was dark and I spent some time feeling walls to find the drawer in the dining room where i knew one of those candle lighters was. Now I have easily 7 or 8 around the house.
If I am without power I will put a "tall candle holder"....actually an antique brass push up...into the sink with a 4 or 5 inch candle and leave it on, even after I have gone to bed.....and I will do the same in the bath tub upstairs. In total darkness, you might be surprised how much light one candle throws.
Stay safe all you Left Coasters.

I've got those flashlights that you keep plugged into an outlet and it turns on a finder light when the power goes off. Costco of course. I want to get more of them - they're great. I don't have any candles in the house right now - don't like them because they smell but I should get some emergency ones. I also have my cell phone next to my bed.

I do have a flashlight for my head, sort of like this one - in fact we have two and we used to use them when we went into the attic. I keep mine on the table next to the patio door so that I can wear it when I go to pick basil at night because that part of the yard is not lit - yet! Once I get lights for the fountain, I will be able to see my basil and oregano at night.

I love candles in the bathroom, and as a child I would always take baths when the lights went out, and I would have a dozen candles in the bathroom. My mother always had a lot of candles but seldom lit them.

As for glow-in-the-dark - I have some luminous eyeballs that I keep in my desk, and I have a keychain with a luminous ET style alien. I used to have glow in the dark shoe laces and was wearing them once when I went on a cave tour in Texas where they were going to show us total darkness. The shoe laces glowed a bright orange. I have some markers that have luminous ink (or paint), but I have not used them. In Venice, I had luminous stars on the ceiling of my bedroom, and I arranged them to form various constellations like the big and little dipper and also Orion and Hercules. They would not go with my current decor, however, except perhaps in the art studio, which has a vaulted ceiling.

Lars

There has been power outs in my area (NYC) including one not too long ago for 5 days. No big deal, I have a generator.

There willing be many more weather conditions for all areas from now on. Some ideas:

1. Get a generator. You can get one for less than $200. A bursted pipe in the winter can cost you thousands. A freezer's food costs way more than a generator.

2. Get an inverter ($20 and up). Run the inverter from your car idling. You can run some lights and phone, TV, computer, etc.

3. Keep an old car battery, and charge the battery once in a couple of months. An old car battery has enough leftover power to run a few 12v LED lights for a week non-stop, thru an inverter to power you computer and phone charger.

Good luck all.

dcarch

I would have no idea how to connect a generator or where to put one. I've never lived anywhere that had basements, except for the summers I spent in Vancouver. I've never had food in a freezer spoil because of a power outage partly because they have never lasted long enough and partly because I do not store things in the freezer that are that sensitive - mostly I have frozen vegetables and whole grain flours, but occasionally ice cream, which I would have to eat in case of a long power outage.

Saturday we bought new flashlights and lanterns, all with LED lights. One flashlight plugs into the wall and then turns itself on when the power goes off. We have that in the dining room, which is a central location and will be easy to find from anywhere in the house (except the bedrooms). We got another flashlight that is solar powered but also has a hand crank, and so batteries are not needed. The third one is another headlight, but it puts out more light than the other ones that I have. I used it last night to find chilies to pick for the bok choy soup that I made.

Kevin's cell phone put out quite a bit of light, but I do not have one, although I have a lap top that is quite bright. Our internet service does not work when the electricity is off, and neither do our landline phones, and so I need to get an old phone from the garage to keep in the house for when there is no electricity.

We do not have frost here, and so our pipes are in no danger of bursting. Some of the succulents that I grow outside are hardy only to 38 degrees, and they do fine here in the winter, as do basil and tomato plants.

Lars

Happily we weren't home when our power was off. It was a short time off and back on. We had to reset the modem and the computers, but all is well. I have flashlights scattered around the house, but more LED lights is the best idea.

I do keep a supply of memorial candles (the type in the glass jar) for power outages. There's no fragrance and they burn safely in their little jars. Tapers are pretty, but they frighten me!

(Ellen, I still have that hand crank flashlight you gave me years ago, it is PERFECT in my car!)

I have a lot of candles and a few crappy flashlights. I need to get a good flashlight or two. I've lived in this house for 22 years. Unless someone rearranges the furniture, I'm okay in the dark. Outages here rarely last longer than an hour or so. I don't have a landline and haven't for at least six years.