# Small Tech Comforts Helped Me Navigate Big Challenges After Hurricane Helene
When Hurricane Helene swept through the Asheville mountains in North Carolina, it unleashed a wave of destruction that took our community by surprise. Having spent years in Central Florida, I was familiar with hurricanes, yet the aftermath of Helene was unparalleled. The storm uprooted trees, toppled power lines, and left us without essential services like electricity and running water for several days. Amidst the turmoil, it was the little tech comforts that enabled my family and me to retain a fragment of normalcy.
## Maintaining Connections
The initial signs of trouble struck at 4:45 AM on Friday, September 27, 2024, when we lost power. The ominous sounds of falling trees and the trembling house created a chilling backdrop to the storm. By morning, the scenario had deteriorated as more trees toppled, and power poles teetered alarmingly near our property.
In those critical hours, keeping a link to the outside world became essential. Regrettably, most phones in our household, mine included, struggled to maintain connections. However, my wife’s **Motorola Razr Plus 2024** emerged as a beacon of hope. It was the only device that reliably maintained a signal, enabling us to send messages to family and friends to assure them of our safety. While other devices, such as iPhones and Samsung Galaxies, failed to connect, the Razr Plus remained steadfast, even facilitating a few pivotal calls.
For several days, the Razr Plus stood as our sole dependable communication tool. Motorola phones have been renowned for their superb signal strength, yet it wasn’t until this crisis that I genuinely grasped the importance of that feature. Without it, our loved ones would have remained in the dark regarding our safety for an extended period.
## Keeping Spirits Up
With no power and limited resources, finding ways to amuse ourselves proved to be a challenge. My son and I found comfort in brief gaming sessions on **Minecraft**, reserving our device usage to conserve battery life. During the evenings, we relied on a few essential gadgets to keep our spirits high.
Among the most valuable devices was the **Onyx Boox Page e-reader**. Its gentle backlight enabled us to read after dark without depleting our flashlight batteries. The Boox Page was ideally sized and lightweight, making it a wonderful companion during those long, power-less nights. We also had a **Nest Protect** smoke alarm, which served as a nightlight thanks to its backup battery. Its soft illumination in the hallway provided just enough brightness to navigate the house safely.
Another essential gadget was the **Honor MagicPad 2** tablet. Despite the power outage, the tablet’s remarkable battery life allowed me to continue writing and working, helping me maintain a sense of routine. Writing has always offered me solace, and being able to do so during the storm brought a small comfort amid an otherwise challenging time.
## Powering Up
Naturally, all of these devices required electricity, and with none available, we turned to portable chargers. Two **Anker Prime power banks**, each boasting an impressive 27,500mAh capacity, proved to be lifesavers. These chargers powered our phones, tablets, and other devices for multiple days. The Anker Prime’s capability to automatically choose the best charging speed for each device was especially advantageous, ensuring quick and efficient charging even for phones with proprietary methods, such as the **OnePlus 12**.
We also had a **Viture One dock** for our Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, contributing an additional 10,000mAh of power. Although not as substantial as the Anker power banks, it was tailor-made for gaming devices and helped sustain our entertainment during those long hours of inactivity.
Additionally, our solar-powered devices were instrumental in keeping us afloat. A bird feeder equipped with a smart home camera, powered by a solar panel, functioned throughout the storm, albeit not strong enough to charge our phones. Nevertheless, our **Ring solar-powered lights** around the property performed flawlessly, offering much-needed security and illumination at night.
## Power for Survival
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, I’ve been contemplating what other gadgets would be beneficial in future emergencies. While I plan to stock up on emergency essentials during **Prime Day** on October 8 and 9, I am also eager to gather insights from others about their preferred survival gadgets. Whether it’s a water purifier, a camping stove, or a portable fire pit, I welcome any recommendations that could help ease life during a crisis.
This experience has served as a potent reminder of how delicate our modern conveniences can be, yet it illuminated the significance of small tech comforts. These gadgets,
