Tech and a Storm Event Part 3: Electronics, Entertainment and Power Accessories--What Worked and What Didn't

Surviving a Storm Event Part 3:

Portable Devices, Power Accessories, and Entertainment:
Winners and Losers

Supplies to Help Avert Boredom During a Hurricane

This is Part 3 in a series about surviving a Storm Event and its aftermath, and focusing on the high tech and low tech supplies that help folks get through a storm. We're looking at what worked well, and what did not.  Part 1 focused on lighting technologies, and Part 2 looked at communications. Today, in Part 3, we're going to look at Power Accessories, Portable Electronics, and Entertainment. Our final installment will look at food and provisions.

Even before Irma officially arrived, many places in her path lost electricity. As Irma made her way through Florida, she took down a lot of power poles and transformers, and many people were left powerless for days.  Without power, we cannot run refrigerators, appliances, Internet modems, entertainment systems, or telephones. We cannot keep all of our devices charged either.  In fact, in the 21st Century, we depend on electricity, and most of us find it very difficult to function without it.  But with proper preparation, and the right supplies in an Emergency Kit, you can make the most of a powerless situation.  This article will discuss some of the things that helped us get through the days without power.

Portable Electronics: Win

Every modern household is equipped with a wide range of electronic devices.  Many of these devices are designed to be portable.  And every type of portable electronic can be useful in a Storm Event.  However, any device that depends on Internet to operate will most likely be useless.  We probably won't be using our Smart Speakers, Amazon Echos, and DVRs during a hurricane.  

Other devices will be extremely useful. Laptops, tablets, cell phones, MP3 players, portable media players, e-readers, and the like are all fantastic to have during a storm. These types of devices hold a whole lot of information in a relatively small space.  With proper preparation, you will find yourself depending on these devices to get you through the storm without losing your mind.  

Technology to Weather the Storm

Summer Storm Season is Here

Prepare for Power Outages with the Right Tech

This week, we have a different kind of Friday Quick Tip. Summer Storm Season has arrived,  and for many, that means winds, rains, and possible flooding. It also means power outages. Sometimes these outages are brief; other times they last for hours.  And for a lot of us, that means no technology. Modems and routers need power to function. And how many times has your phone's battery died, and it was ALL you had for entertainment during a storm?  Luckily, there is technology to help keep your tech useful during bad weather, and all that comes with it.

Today's tip discusses what tech you need to prepare your electronics for a bad storm.  Basically, we discuss how to keep things up and powered, so you're not stuck with nothing to watch when a storm hits other than the bad weather. With the right equipment, you can keep your electronics up and working.  And we're not talking about buying generators that cost hundreds of dollars.  Rather, we're talking about solutions that cost less than your average night out.

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

In this case, UPS stands for "uninterruptible power supply," rather than the guys who deliver all your packages.  In other words, a UPS is a device that allows a computer to keep running for a period of time when the power goes out. It also provides protection from power surges.