We have the canned goods, the dry goods, the water filter, the ammo, an emergency trunk filled with everything you can think of—drugs, first aid, lanterns, etc.
But I’m sitting here in the dark for hours after a transformer blew in our small village. Totally failed our dry run. I can’t get the lanterns working. Our batteries seem corrupted and I don’t have the right kind of batteries in some instances. And I need a lantern that uses another kind of energy too.
Big fail! I’m off to Home Depot when the lights come on to truly get prepared. Glad this happened today. I thought we were in good shape. Didn’t make it an hour.
Great topic.
Those of you looking to have backup generation capacity, and trying to fit that with your budget--factor in the "green energy" tax credit program that at present runs I think through 2032 and covers units 3000 kWh and bigger. It includes not just rooftop PV but also "solar generators" (big battery packs) that can be charged via portable solar panels, on grid while you have power, and other ways depending on the product (like DC/car charging, which some RV and outdoor people do, charging the batt as they drive from one place to the next, or from a gas/propane generator).
They are pricey, but in budgeting for them the tax credit can make a big difference. Jackery had deep sales this summer, and the credits on top of that made it possible for a couple young friends to afford a 3000 kWh unit that they'd saved up for for a couple years.