As hurricane season approaches, you might think you're preparing for the possibility of power outages and communication disruptions. But solar and battery-powered technology is evolving, and your hurricane kit needs to evolve too.
The Miami-Dade County Emergency Operations Center shared with NBC6 how to use eco-friendly devices to keep your phones, tablets and even appliances charged and prepared before, during and after the storm.
And considering that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its worst weather forecast on record for May, it's wise to always be prepared and know your options.
Emergency Management Director Pete Gomez will be helping out with that.
“It's a solar-powered battery pack that you can use to charge your cell phone or other small items,” Gomez said. “It has a variety of solar panels on it so it charges a little faster and takes longer to charge.”
Rechargeable solar battery pack, check.
And it can do more than just charge your electronics.
“I especially like these solar lights because we've all been there at night when our flashlight batteries are running low, and these can be placed anywhere in the house,” Gomez says.
Generators are another necessity that many residents have, and now some are safe to use indoors.
“I'm always worried that people will use gas generators improperly,” Gomez said. “This type of generator is battery-powered. You don't have to worry about that. You just make sure it's turned on. You have it charged right before a disaster strikes.”
His battery-powered generator has many ports and is large enough to power a high-powered fan, a small air conditioner and even a small refrigerator for those who need to keep medicines cool.
“This type of generator produces that kind of power,” Gomez said.
These gadgets can be purchased from major retailers or online.
And if hot and humid weather causes an extended power outage, you can always mix and match technology: connect a portable solar panel to a battery-powered generator and you'll be up and running in no time.
