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Storm & Survival Shop

Products we recommend · DC’s Cool 😎 Finds

DC’s Storm & Survival Picks. 5 hurricanes and 35 tornadoes survived. This is DC’s storm kit, picked for the hours and days after the lights go out: backup power, water, light, a weather radio, first aid and food. Before a storm: charge every power station and power bank, fill the water jugs and the water bladder, and test-run gas generators outdoors, never in a garage or near a window. Looking for local help? Find a pro in the DC Site Family.

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Backup power

Keep the fridge, phones, lights and Wi-Fi going when the grid goes down. Gas inverter generators handle the big loads; battery power stations and a solar power bank cover quiet power for devices.

An orange and black AIVOLT open-frame inverter generator in a black tube frame, printed 4200 peak and 3300 running watts, with outlets and switches on the front panel — Photo: AIVOLT (manufacturer product photo), via aivoltshop.com

AIVOLT 4,200W open-frame inverter generator

A gas inverter generator rated 4,200 peak / 3,300 running watts. AIVOLT lists up to 16 hours of runtime on its 2.6-gallon tank in ECO mode, CO shutdown, a low-oil alert, parallel capability, an RV-ready outlet and USB ports, at 54.3 lb and 68 dB.

Run gas generators outdoors only, far from doors and windows. Carbon monoxide can kill.

A dark gray BLUETTI Elite 100 portable power station with a display, AC outlets and USB ports, beside a black folding solar panel — Photo: BLUETTI (manufacturer product photo), via bluettipower.com

BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 solar generator with 200W panel

A 1,024Wh LiFePO4 power station with 1,800W rated AC output, sold as a kit with a 200W solar panel (the listing says the panel ships separately).

Check what the kit includes and which appliances fit within 1,800W before buying.

An orange and black WEN 4800 inverter generator with wheels, sitting on pavement — Representative photo of a WEN inverter generator, not this exact model. Photo: TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

WEN 56235i 2,350W inverter generator

A gas inverter generator rated 2,350 surge / 1,900 running watts, about 39 lb, with a fuel shutoff feature.

Run gas generators outdoors only, far from doors and windows. Carbon monoxide can kill.

A dark gray Jackery Explorer 300 Plus power station with a display, USB ports and an AC outlet on the front — Representative photo of a Jackery power station, not this exact model. Photo: TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station

A 292Wh portable power station with 300W rated AC output (600W surge), 2 AC outlets, a USB-C PD port, and a weight of about 7.5 lb.

Best for phones, laptops, lights and small devices. Check device wattage first.

A red and black open-frame gasoline inverter generator inside a black tube frame — Representative photo of a open-frame inverter generator, not this exact model. Photo: P1898, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Oxseryn 4,400W open-frame inverter generator

A gas inverter generator rated 4,400 peak / 3,400 running watts, with an RV outlet and a 2-gallon tank with fuel gauge.

Run gas generators outdoors only, far from doors and windows. Carbon monoxide can kill.

A dark green handheld power bank with a solar panel on its face — Representative photo of a solar power bank, not this exact model. Photo: Pinguinguy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

BLASOUL 49,800mAh solar power bank

A 49,800mAh power bank with a solar panel, wireless charging, 4 built-in cables and 22.5W fast charging.

Solar charging is slow. Charge it fully from a wall outlet before a storm.

Water

Store it, filter it, or pull it from the air. Ready.gov suggests at least one gallon of water per person per day, for several days.

Two square military-green plastic water jugs, each with a molded top handle, a large cap, a small cap and a spigot near the bottom — Illustration, not this exact model

UPWOIGH 5-gallon water jugs with spigot, 2-pack

Two 5-gallon BPA-free HDPE water jugs with a spigot and two cap openings.

Clean and refill stored water on a regular schedule.

A flat, filled dark blue water bladder with a round threaded fitting on one corner — Illustration, not this exact model

ITRAZ 60-gallon collapsible water bladder

A food-grade TPU water bladder that holds 60 gallons and folds flat when empty, with a 3/4-inch garden-hose thread fitting.

A full 60-gallon bladder is very heavy. Set it on a surface that can carry the weight.

A gray and green portable water filter pump with a small solar panel, a hand crank, a top button and two clear hoses — Illustration, not this exact model

Thmomex 3-in-1 electric water filter

A push-button pump filter for river, lake or stream water. It recharges by USB-C, a built-in solar panel or a hand crank, and the listing rates one filter core at 5,000 liters.

Follow the maker’s directions for treating water before drinking.

A silver countertop cabinet with a black touch panel and small display, a dispenser spout, a glass of water on a drip tray and a front vent grille — Illustration, not this exact model

IOBLAZE 10L atmospheric water generator

A plug-in (110V) unit the listing says makes up to 10 liters of cold drinking water a day from the air, with no plumbing.

Needs electrical power to run. Check the listing for output conditions and filter care.

Light, alerts & radios

Light to work by after dark, a NOAA weather radio for alerts, and push-to-talk radios to keep the crew or family in touch.

A black LED camping lantern with a clear globe and a top carry handle — Representative photo of a LED camping lantern, not this exact model. Photo: TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lichamp LED camping lantern

An LED lantern with 3 light modes (daylight white, full brightness, warm white), a top handle and a base hook. The shade comes off for a shorter light.

Check the listing for battery type and runtime.

A cordless LED work light with three adjustable LED panels, a black carry handle and a yellow battery mount — Photo: LIVOWALNY (manufacturer product photo), via livowalny.com

LIVOWALNY 150W cordless LED work light with stand

A 3-head LED flood light rated at 15,000 lumens and 6500K, with a 1.6 m stand. It runs on DeWalt 20V batteries.

Tool only: battery and charger are not included.

A red Eton emergency radio with a tuning dial, speaker grille and hand crank — Representative photo of a emergency crank radio, not this exact model. Photo: Morn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mesqool emergency NOAA weather radio

A NOAA/AM/FM radio with a 12,000mAh battery that charges by solar panel, hand crank or USB-C, or runs on 3 AAA batteries.

Check that NOAA weather radio reaches your area.

Several handheld walkie-talkies of different makes standing side by side — Representative photo of a walkie-talkies, not this exact model. Photo: Wtshymanski at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

KaYoTom M08 4G push-to-talk radios, 4-pack

Push-to-talk radios that use 4G cellular (PoC) instead of radio range. The listing says a SIM with lifetime free data is included. 2,500mAh battery, USB-C charging.

Uses the cellular network, so check service in your area.

First aid & food

A well-stocked first aid kit and meals that need no fridge.

A red zippered pouch labeled First Aid Kit with a green cross — Representative photo of a first aid kit, not this exact model. Photo: Renée Kools, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

TLIEAO 430-piece emergency first aid kit

A 430-piece kit in a labeled, compartmented 1680D polyester bag, with bandages, gloves, a CPR face shield, a tourniquet and a first aid manual.

A kit is not a substitute for first aid training or emergency care.

An open can of freeze-dried scrambled egg pieces — Representative photo of a freeze-dried emergency food, not this exact model. Photo: Gigs, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ready Hour 120-serving freeze-dried entrée bucket

Freeze-dried entrées, up to 120 servings, in a flood-safe bucket with a handle. The listing says it lasts up to 25 years in cool, dry storage.

Check servings, calories and allergens on the listing.