Storm season is here, and with it comes the chance of losing power for a few hours or even a few days. A little preparation can turn an outage from a stressful scramble into a mild inconvenience. The best part is that most of these hacks cost very little and take just a few minutes to set up.

Here are nine simple ways to be ready the next time the lights go out.

1. Build a grab-and-go light kit

Keep flashlights or LED lanterns, plus spare batteries, in one easy-to-find spot, such as a kitchen drawer or near the main door. Headlamps are especially useful because they keep your hands free. Battery-powered lights are safer than candles; if you do use candles, never leave them unattended and keep them away from curtains, pets and children.

2. Charge everything when a storm is forecast

When a storm warning goes out, plug in phones, tablets, laptops and portable power banks. A fully charged power bank can recharge a phone several times. Keep a car charger in your vehicle as a backup, but only run the car outdoors, never in an attached garage.

3. Turn your phone into a power-saver

During an outage, your phone is your lifeline for updates. Switch on low-power mode, dim the screen, close apps you are not using and turn off features like Bluetooth when you do not need them. Check for updates at set intervals rather than scrolling constantly.

4. Keep the fridge closed

Food stays cold longer if you resist the urge to peek. A closed refrigerator generally keeps food cold for several hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature longer than a half-empty one. Filling empty freezer space with containers of water that freeze into ice blocks helps. When in doubt about whether food is still safe after a long outage, follow official food safety guidance and throw it out.

5. Stock a no-cook pantry shelf

Set aside a few days’ worth of food that needs no cooking or refrigeration: canned goods, peanut butter, crackers, cereal, dried fruit, nuts and shelf-stable milk. Do not forget a manual can opener. Store some bottled water too; many emergency guides suggest planning for about a gallon per person per day.

6. Know how to keep warm safely

If an outage hits in cold weather, gather everyone in one room, close doors to unused rooms and layer up with blankets, hats and warm socks. Never use a gas stove, oven, outdoor grill or camping heater to heat your home. These can produce carbon monoxide, which is invisible and dangerous. A battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm is a smart investment.

7. Use generators the right way

If you own a portable generator, run it only outdoors, well away from doors, windows and vents, and never in a garage or basement. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting appliances, and do not plug a generator into a wall outlet.

8. Protect your electronics

When the power comes back, it can arrive with a surge. Unplug sensitive electronics such as computers and TVs during the outage, or use surge protectors. Leave one light switched on so you know when power returns.

9. Keep important info offline

Write down key phone numbers, your utility company’s outage line and any medical information on a card and keep it with your light kit. If your phone dies, you will still have what you need. It is also worth knowing how to manually open an electric garage door.

Bonus: Make it fun for kids

Outages can feel scary for children. Turn it into an adventure with a “camp-out” in the living room, board games, card games or storytelling by lantern light. A little routine goes a long way toward keeping everyone calm.

The wrap-up

Power outages are rarely convenient, but they do not have to be chaotic. Spend 30 minutes this weekend gathering a light kit, charging your power banks and stocking a pantry shelf. Then, if the next storm knocks out the power, you will be ready to ride it out with a little more calm and a lot less stress. Always follow guidance from your local authorities and utility during major storms.

Image: Burning candle lantern night via Rawpixel, CC0 1.0