14 things to do now that will save you during a power outage

Do you know what to do when a blackout strikes? No matter where you live, it's more than likely you'll face one at some point. Wildfires, heat waves, strong winds, a power surge, a blown transformer, an ice storm or any of a dozen other events can knock your power out with little to no warning.

When the inevitable happens, make sure you have a plan. These tips will get you ready to outlast an outage any time of the year. 

First, you're going to need a way to charge your devices so you can keep in touch... and be entertained, of course. 

Some good options are the Aukey 10,000mAh portable power bank or the Zagg charger.

The problem with power banks, though, is that they only last a certain amount of time, then you're back to square one. 

A smarter choice is to go with a power bank that can be recharged by the sun, like Goal Zero chargers, the Portable Solar Power Bank or the Anker Solar Charger. As long as you have daylight, you have an unending source of power.

Now that you have a plan to power your devices, you'll need some entertainment. Netflix, Hulu and YouTube allow you to download videos and shows now so you can watch them later, without Wi-Fi.

If reading is more your thing, you can set up Chrome for Android so that it downloads articles it thinks you'll like while you're online so you can read them offline, like during a power outage. This is how you set up the offline articles function.

You can use your email account while you're offline, too. Here's how to turn on Gmail's offline setting.

For short-term outages (a couple of hours), you really don't need to worry about the food in your fridge going bad. 

Move some larger frozen items from the freezer to the refrigerator to supplement the cool air that's already inside. After you make the transfer, keep the door closed and the fridge will stay cold long enough for the power to come back on.

For longer outages, you'll need to take action to save perishables like milk, meats, eggs, leftovers and cheeses. Here are some tips that will help you save your food.

If you live in an area that has brownouts or blackouts during heat waves, you can get prepared by making your own battery-powered air conditioner. 

It doesn't take a lot of DIY know-how, and all you need is an old cooler, PVC pipe, a battery-powered fan, some basic power tools and duct tape. You can get full instructions here.

No matter if it's a storm, heat wave or just strong winds that's knocking out power, you need to stay on top of the latest weather. 

Since you can't flip to the Weather Channel or your local news, you'll need a reliable app. Here are some good options.

Unless you want to survive on power bars and crackers, you'll need a way to cook without power. 

The best plan -- if you have a porch, patio or yard -- is to have a grill handy. Here's how to pick the best grill for your needs. 

You aren't stuck making hot dogs, burgers and steaks on your grill when the power is out. 

Here are 8 unexpected ways to cook with your grill.

If you find yourself running out of candles, remember this tip: crayons are a great alternative. 

Use a lighter to slightly melt the bottom and stick it to a plate so it will stand upright. Then, light the paper around the crayon on the top. The paper will act as a wick and the wax will fuel the flame, just like a candle. 

Just in case the weather gets too bad, keep a go bag on hand during the power outage. 

Go bags are prepacked with stuff you'll need if you have to evacuate or seek other shelter. Here's how to pick a bag and fill it with essentials. 

If you rely on your fridge's water filter for clean water, you'll need to have an alternative handy when there's no power. 

Filtering water pitchers are a good go-to. These are some things to consider before you go shopping.