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Lighting Options During An Emergency
It is safe to assume that no one likes to sit in the
dark. Without our usual means of
lighting our homes, our waking and sleeping hours are basically dictated by the
length of the day. Many of our work and
leisure activities are carried on during the hours of darkness, and when there
is an electric power outage, these are immediately curtailed. A wide variety of situations can cause the
loss of electric power, from storms to earthquakes to terrorism. Rather than being forced to limit your life
to those hours when the sun is shining, it is prudent to provide for emergency lighting before you need it.
Flashlights
Although it is unlikely that you will be using flashlights
as your primary source of light during an emergency or emergency, it is still a
good idea to have several available at all times. You should also keep one in your car. While many of us use the ‘traditional’
battery powered flashlight, there are other options that are more
economical. Rechargable lights are
an excellent way to provide emergency lighting, and will save money as you will
never need to purchase batteries. You
will have to remember to plug the flashlight into the wall outlet when it is
not being used, however.
Camp Lanterns
Those who enjoy camping will often prefer more light than a
campfire can provide, and there are a number of different
options, from those that run on batteries, to rechargeable lanterns to
lanterns that use liquid fuel. Depending
on the lantern, these lamps can produce up to 150 hours of light. LED lanterns will generally produce the
longest periods of light. Lanterns that
use liquid fuel, either kerosene or gasoline, will be usable for as long as
your supply of fuel lasts. Although these lanterns were first designed
for use at campsites, they make excellent lanterns to use during an emergency
or disaster. Most of these lanterns,
even the larger ones, are priced under $100.00, so purchasing several will not
strain most budgets.
Oil and Kerosene
Lamps
Before electricity was available, oil or kerosene was used
in lamps to provide a better light than a candle was able to produce. Until rural electrification resulted in every
community in the United States having electricity, kerosene lamps provided the
way for people to read and carry on activities after sunset. Oil can also be used for these lamps, and
nowadays it is possible to buy refined products that produce no disagreeable
odor when burned.
Kerosene lamps come in a wide variety of sizes and styles,
from functional hurricane style lamps to elegant lamps that will look good
anywhere. While the light given off by a
kerosene lamp will be brighter than that from a candle, it is still rather weak
when compared to electric lighting.
However, if the lamp uses a lamp mantle, it will be able to produce a
glow similar to that from a 60 watt bulb.
Many lamps will work with either kerosene or lamp oil, and
if the smell of kerosene is disagreeable to you, an oil lamp may suit you
better. You can choose between unscented
oil or one that has a fragrance added.
Most oil lamps are rather fragile as they are usually made of
glass. These lamps are reasonable in
cost, and several can be purchased to more effectively light a room.
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