Definitely agree on rechargeable lighting—picked up a couple affordable solar lanterns last year and they've been great. They don't put out a ton of light, but enough to navigate safely. Worth it for peace of mind alone...
Good call on the solar lanterns—I've been thinking about grabbing some myself. Do you find they hold up well over time, or do they start losing charge capacity after a while? I'm new to all this storm prep stuff, so trying to figure out what's actually worth the money. Glad to hear your shelter passed inspection, btw...must feel good having that sorted.
"Do you find they hold up well over time, or do they start losing charge capacity after a while?"
I've had mixed luck with solar lanterns, honestly. Bought a couple cheap ones a few years back, and they started losing their charge pretty noticeably after about a year. But then I splurged on a pricier brand (can't remember the name offhand, but it had great reviews), and those have held up like champs through multiple storm seasons. Definitely one of those "you get what you pay for" deals... Glad your shelter passed inspection—peace of mind is priceless when storms roll in.
Interesting you mention that pricier lanterns always hold up better—I actually had the opposite experience. I bought a fairly expensive set last year, thinking they'd be more reliable, but one of them started fading pretty fast after just six months. Meanwhile, the cheaper ones I grabbed on clearance at a hardware store have been going strong for almost two years now. Maybe it's less about price and more about specific brands or even production batches?
One thing I've noticed is placement really matters too. Keeping them somewhere they get consistent direct sunlight during the day seems to prolong their battery life quite a bit. Also, periodically wiping down the solar panels makes a noticeable difference. Dust and dirt buildup can seriously cut down charging efficiency, even if it's not immediately obvious.
Glad your shelter passed inspection, though—nothing beats knowing you're prepared when things get rough out there.
Funny you mention placement—I learned that one the hard way. I installed a set of those fancy lanterns along the shaded side of my deck, thinking they'd look great there. Well, they did...for about two hours each night before they flickered out. Moved them to a sunnier spot, and suddenly they're marathon runners. Agree on cleaning the panels too; surprising how much grime builds up in no time. Congrats on passing inspection, by the way—peace of mind is priceless.
