Gadgets for calamities. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - With typhoons and severe storms slamming the country in quick succession, being prepared and having the right gear can help you better ride out a calamity. Survival experts have already weighed in on what people need to bring in their "go bags" in case they need to evacuate.

But aside from the essential stuff like medicines, extra clothes, food and water, having a few tech tools can also help you make the best of a bad situation. 

The American Red Cross recommends that people have gadgets for communication, light sources, backup power as well as backup devices during a calamity. Here in the Philippines, these are gadgets you may find most useful during a calamity.

Portable radio

Staying informed can mean life or death during a calamity, and your best source of information is still the mainstream media. During a calamity, radio stations, especially news-oriented AM stations, get up-to-the-minute information from relevant authorities. They also vet information coming from the field before broadcasting this as news--avoiding panic-inducing sensationalism as much as possible. So a portable radio is practically a must during disasters.  

Do you go for a radio powered by traditional AA (or AAA) batteries or something that's rechargeable? Going out to buy batteries during a calamity doesn't seem like a good idea and many gadgets, including radios, now come with rechargeable batteries.

Flashlights and lamps

A light source during a calamity is a must. You don't want to be wandering blindly during a long brownout, especially when you need to evacuate. Battery-powered flashlights are great, and rechargeable flashlights and emergency lights are even better.

Backup phone 

Hardly anybody lives nowadays without a cell phone. But it also pays to have a backup phone in case your main phone dies out during a long brownout. Make sure the backup also has emergency numbers you may need to call. 

Ages ago, a backup phone meant a dumb phone as this usually had a longer battery life than smartphones, and it was understood that you only need to use them to text and call during emergencies. 

But since a lot of communication is now done through apps and social media channels, it's probably better to have another smartphone as a backup. A smartphone also lets you connect to map apps that you may need in case you need to move into another area for your safety. 

The HONOR X7c is water and dust-resistant. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News 

Many sub-P10k smartphones now also have bigger batteries, which help them last longer.  A standout here is the HONOR X7c, which is a rare entry-level smartphone with a massive 6,000 mAh battery and water resistance.

Power banks

It's inevitable that the power will go out during a typhoon as power lines trip and electric posts go down. A 10,000 mAh power bank can extend the life of your phone and other rechargeable gadgets by an extra day. But in case of a major power outage that lasts more than a day, it's better to have larger power banks with capacities of 20,000 mAh or higher. Some large-capacity power banks can even charge laptops.

NOT ESSENTIAL BUT GOOD TO HAVE

If your home is safe and you are not likely to need evacuation during a typhoon, riding out a long brownout can be less tedious if you have the following gadgets.

Portable wifi

Keeping your phone's data connection on will drain its battery fast. A portable wifi lets you connect to the internet while conserving your phone's precious battery.

Tablet

A tablet is great for keeping you entertained while also letting you conserve your phone's precious battery. You can download a Netflix series before the storm hits and binge-watch them while riding out the wind and rain.

If you still need to work (like journalists do during a calamity) and can do your work from a browser, a tablet will also let you do this. Just pair them with a good Bluetooth keyboard. This setup also generally lasts longer than a laptop, except for the newer ones with M-series, Snapdragon, Strix Point and Lunar Lake chips.

Rechargeable fan

A long brownout can also be uncomfortably hot, but not if you have a portable/rechargeable fan.  

Power station and Solar charger

Nowadays you can get portable "power stations" with massive 100,000 mAh batteries and higher that can power even small appliances. Some of these power stations cost less than P3k on popular e-commerce platforms, and they claim to be able to power electric fans, TVs, laptops and even rice cookers. Some of these portable power stations also have solar panels that allow you to recharge their battery amid a long power outage.