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Build your outage-lighting kit around three things: a portable battery-powered flashlight, a second light that illuminates a shared space, and spare batteries that exactly match both devices. Keep the lights where anyone can reach them quickly, tell household members the locations, and test the kit on a regular schedule. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the American Red Cross both advise using battery-powered flashlights or lanterns instead of candles during a power outage.
There is no official universal target for lumens, runtime, battery capacity, or the number of lights in a home. The right setup depends on the rooms people use, who may need to move independently, how easy batteries are to replace, and whether anyone relies on electrically powered medical equipment.
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Start with a two-light core kit
A useful household kit separates two jobs that one light rarely handles well: helping a person move in a specific direction and lighting an area where several people need to see. Assemble the core kit before adding specialized options.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Portable directional flashlight | Walking to a breaker panel, bathroom, bedroom, or exit; checking a specific object or hazard | Simple power control, comfortable grip, beam you can aim, and batteries that are easy to obtain | Keep one in the main living area and additional units where household members may need to move independently |
| Portable lantern or other area light | Illuminating a table, kitchen, hallway junction, or room without aiming a narrow beam | Stable base, controls that are easy to find in the dark, and battery compatibility with your spares | Store it with the main emergency supplies, not in a high cabinet that requires a stool |
| Correct spare batteries | Keeping the lights usable after the cells installed in them are depleted | Exactly match the size and chemistry specified for each device; keep enough for the way your household expects to use the lights | Keep batteries beside the lights in a labeled, dry container so they are not separated during an emergency |
| Optional fixed-location backup light | Providing automatic or convenient illumination at one outlet or doorway | Confirm that it still works when utility power fails and that its location is useful | Treat it as a supplement; keep portable, battery-powered lights available elsewhere |
This arrangement is a planning baseline, not a government-mandated quantity. A household with several floors, people who sleep in separate rooms, or members who cannot safely walk in darkness may need more portable lights.
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Choose the right light for each task
Directional flashlights for movement and inspection
A flashlight sends light where you point it. That makes it the practical choice for checking a stair, finding a tripped breaker, locating a phone, or walking to an exit. Choose a model that can be operated by touch: a large, distinct switch is easier to use than a tiny button when the room is dark or the user has limited dexterity.
Consider whether the flashlight can stand on its tail or lie securely on its side. A standing flashlight can bounce light off a ceiling when you need both hands, although it generally gives less even illumination than a lantern. A wrist strap or lanyard can reduce the chance of dropping it while carrying supplies.
Lanterns for shared spaces
A lantern spreads light around a table or room, so several people can work without aiming a beam. Look for a broad, stable base and controls that are obvious by touch. A handle can make it easier to carry, but it should not prevent the lantern from sitting securely where people will not knock it over.
Area lights are especially useful for sorting food, reading printed instructions, helping children settle, or organizing an evacuation bag. They are less convenient than a flashlight for looking behind furniture or navigating a narrow path, which is why the two categories complement one another.
Battery type and replacement availability
Read the device label before buying spare batteries. “Spare batteries” are useful only when their size and chemistry match the light. If your flashlight uses one type and your lantern uses another, label the batteries by device rather than assuming a mixed pile will fit everything.
When selecting between otherwise similar lights, favor the battery format that household members can replace without tools and that local shops commonly stock. The official guidance does not prescribe a battery capacity or a particular chemistry; compatibility and availability are the practical constraints.
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Controls, accessibility, and handling
Try every control before storing a light. A person wearing gloves, with reduced vision, or with limited hand strength should be able to identify the power switch and change batteries. Avoid placing a light in a case that requires a complicated latch unless you have verified that everyone who may need it can open it.
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How much light is enough?
Neither the CPSC nor the American Red Cross specifies a universal lumen output, runtime, battery capacity, or number of lights for a home outage kit. Do not treat a marketing number as a household standard. Instead, decide what must be visible and for how many people.
| Household question | What the answer changes |
|---|---|
| Does anyone need to walk between floors, a bedroom, and an exit? | Add accessible directional lights along those routes so one person does not have to carry the only flashlight. |
| Will several people need to cook, sort supplies, or communicate in one room? | Prioritize an area lantern that can remain stationary while a flashlight handles movement. |
| Are there children, older adults, or people with mobility or vision limitations? | Store simple-to-operate lights at reachable heights and place backups where assistance can be provided quickly. |
| Could an outage affect electrically powered medical equipment? | Plan lighting around the equipment user’s safe movement and the broader electrical backup plan; lighting alone does not keep medical devices operating. |
| Could household members need to leave? | Keep at least one portable light with the evacuation supplies and make sure it can be carried hands-free if necessary. |
Use the rooms and routes in your own home as the test. A small apartment may need fewer locations than a multistory house, while a large household may need several independent lights even if the outage is expected to be short.
Keep spare batteries with the lights
The American Red Cross includes flashlights and extra batteries in its power-outage-kit guidance. Store replacement cells beside the device rather than in a remote drawer. During an outage, searching several rooms for the right battery wastes the light you are trying to preserve.
- Read each device label. Record the battery size and any chemistry requirement on a small card or label attached to the storage container.
- Separate incompatible batteries. Use separate bags or compartments for different sizes, and mark which flashlight or lantern each group fits.
- Inspect for damage. Do not install cells that are leaking, swollen, corroded, or otherwise damaged. Dispose of damaged batteries according to local rules.
- Check the contacts. If a light has corrosion or dirt in the battery compartment, clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions before an emergency.
- Rotate deliberately. During routine household battery use, move the oldest compatible cells into ordinary devices and replace the emergency reserve with fresh cells. Keep the reserve together after every rotation.
Do not mix old and new cells or different chemistries in a device unless its instructions explicitly allow it. If a light behaves erratically after a battery change, remove the cells, confirm orientation, and check that every cell is the specified type.
Place the kit where people can find it in the dark
Accessibility is as important as the light’s specifications. Choose one central storage point that is above flood or spill level, away from heat, and reachable without a ladder. If bedrooms, a garage, or a second floor are separated from that point, place additional lights along the routes people would use.
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Create a simple household map
Tell every household member where the primary flashlight, lantern, and spare batteries are kept. A short note on the refrigerator or inside a household emergency folder can show the locations. Use plain labels such as “MAIN FLASHLIGHT” and “SPARE BATTERIES,” large enough to read in low light.
Keep exits and routes usable
Do not store the kit behind boxes, inside a locked cabinet, or beside objects that may fall during a storm. Keep a flashlight near the bed if someone may need to leave the room before reaching the central kit. A light near a stairway or exit can prevent a person from crossing the home in darkness to retrieve one.
Account for visitors and temporary caregivers
If a babysitter, guest, or caregiver may be present, include the kit location in the household’s emergency instructions. The person who normally handles supplies may not be home when the outage begins.
Build the kit step by step
- List the people and spaces to support. Note bedrooms, floors, stairs, exits, and any person who may need a light within arm’s reach.
- Select a directional flashlight. Confirm that the switch, grip, and battery compartment are manageable for the intended users.
- Add an area lantern. Test that it stands securely and lights the shared space where people are most likely to gather.
- Buy matching replacement batteries. Use the exact sizes and types specified by both devices; keep them together in a labeled container.
- Choose storage locations. Put the central kit in an accessible, dry place and add route-specific lights where a single central light would not be reachable.
- Write the instructions. Record each device’s battery type, the storage location, and who should be contacted if a medical device or evacuation need is involved.
- Run a dark-room test. With normal power on, have each household member locate and operate the lights without assistance. Correct any confusing control, inaccessible shelf, or missing label.
- Recheck after household changes. Revisit the layout after moving furniture, adding a baby, changing mobility needs, or replacing a device with a different battery format.
Plan for more than illumination
The American Red Cross notes that an outage can disrupt lighting, communication, refrigeration, cooking, and medical equipment. Its survival-kit guidance lists “flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, and a portable power bank.” Lighting is one part of the outage plan, not a substitute for these other needs.
Children
Use controls children can understand and place a light where they can reach it without climbing. Explain that the light is for finding an adult, moving safely, or staying visible—not for shining into someone’s eyes. Keep spare batteries out of reach of young children when the cells are not secured in a device.
Older adults and people with mobility or vision needs
Place a light within easy reach of the bed or chair used most often. Consider whether a person can hold a flashlight while using a cane, walker, or railing. A stable lantern may be safer for a seated task, while a hands-free or easily carried light may be better for movement; choose based on the person’s actual abilities.
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Medical equipment
If anyone uses electrically powered medical equipment, identify the equipment, its backup power requirements, and the person responsible for arranging help. A lantern can illuminate the equipment, but it cannot provide the electricity it needs. Include the equipment user in outage and evacuation decisions before an emergency.
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Keep a portable light with leashes, carriers, medication, and pet records. A directional beam can help locate a frightened animal, while an area light can illuminate a carrier or feeding area without requiring someone to hold the beam continuously.
Evacuation
Store at least one portable light with the bag or supplies that would leave the home. Check that the light can be carried while opening doors, handling a railing, or assisting another person. Make sure everyone knows the nearest safe exit and the location of the light used on that route.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use battery-powered lights instead of candles
The CPSC says, “Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns instead of candles during a power outage,” in its 2026 winter safety release. The American Red Cross gives the same core instruction in simpler language: “Use flashlights, not candles.” Follow that advice even when the outage begins unexpectedly and the lighting kit is not yet organized.
Keep the flashlight or lantern on a stable surface, away from water and anything that can obstruct a doorway. Turn lights off when a room is empty if conserving batteries matters, but keep one light immediately available for movement. If a device becomes hot, smells unusual, leaks, or shows damaged wiring or a damaged case, stop using it and replace it rather than trying to improvise a repair.
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CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman warned in a May 27, 2026 release, “Hurricanes and severe storms can turn deadly long after the wind and rain stop.” That warning is a reason to keep the kit ready before severe weather, not to wait until the power has already failed.
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When an outlet-powered automatic light helps
A fixed-location emergency light can be convenient at a hallway, bedroom, or exit. The American Red Cross store lists the Eton Blackout Buddy Emergency Flashlight/Nightlight, item ARCBBSWIVEL; the listing says it recharges in an outlet and automatically turns on during a power failure. Those are features stated by the store listing, not independent testing.
An outlet-recharged light may illuminate the spot where it is installed, making it easier to find a portable flashlight. It cannot follow you to another room, help outside, or replace a lantern in a shared space. Keep portable battery-powered lights available even if you install an automatic outlet light, and test that the chosen outlet and device still perform as expected after installation.
Test and maintain the kit
Set a recurring reminder that fits your household—many people choose a monthly check or a routine tied to seasonal storm preparation. During each check:
- Turn on every flashlight, lantern, and fixed-location backup light.
- Confirm that controls, straps, handles, stands, and battery doors work.
- Look for corrosion, leaks, cracked cases, loose switches, or damaged cords.
- Verify that the spare batteries are present, correctly labeled, and compatible.
- Ask a different household member to locate and operate the lights.
- Update the storage map after furniture, bedroom, or household changes.
After a real outage, replace batteries that were heavily used, dry any equipment exposed to moisture, and return every light to its marked location. Do not assume that a light used briefly during a previous outage still has a full reserve.
Troubleshoot common failures before an outage
| Symptom | Likely checks | Action |
|---|---|---|
| The light does not turn on | Power switch position, battery orientation, depleted cells, and dirty contacts | Reinstall the specified batteries in the marked direction, clean contacts as instructed, and replace the cells if necessary. |
| The light flickers or cuts out when moved | Loose battery contact, damaged spring, failing switch, or a cracked case | Stop relying on it as the primary light; inspect it and replace the device if the fault persists. |
| The replacement batteries do not fit | Wrong size or a mixed storage container | Read the device label, separate battery types, and relabel the reserve. |
| The lantern tips over | Unstable base or storage location | Move it to a level surface or choose a model with a more stable base. |
| The plug-in light stays dark during a test outage | It may be in a switched or nonessential outlet, may not be charged, or may have failed | Test another suitable location, follow the product instructions, and keep a portable battery light as the dependable backup. |
| Household members cannot find the kit | Obstructed storage, unclear labels, or no shared briefing | Relocate it, use large labels, and repeat the dark-room test with everyone who may be home. |
What “72 hours without electricity” does—and does not—mean
An American Red Cross article asks, “How would you survive 72 hours without electricity?” Treat that as reader-facing preparedness language, not a technical lighting standard. It does not establish a required flashlight runtime, lumen level, battery quantity, or guarantee that every outage lasts exactly 72 hours.
Use the question as a planning exercise: identify how your household would see, communicate, keep food cold, cook, manage medical equipment, and leave safely if power were unavailable for an extended period. Then size the lighting kit around those tasks and the people who must perform them.
Quick Recap
Final household check
- A portable directional flashlight is available and easy to operate.
- A second light, such as a lantern, can illuminate the shared space.
- Spare batteries are stored with the lights and match each device exactly.
- Every household member knows where the kit is kept.
- Lights are reachable from bedrooms and along important routes where needed.
- Children, older adults, mobility needs, vision needs, pets, and visitors have been considered.
- Medical-equipment and evacuation plans address needs that lighting alone cannot solve.
- An optional outlet-powered automatic light is treated as a supplement, not the only source.
- The kit has been tested recently and damaged or depleted components have been replaced.
- The household uses battery-powered lights instead of candles during an outage.
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