Gadgetory

the warnings been made it may take a long time not only to clear but also to get for example the power companies back in but there are ways to make sure you have enough juice in your cell phone to write out the storm first while the lights are still on keep your phone and laptop plugged in your laptop which has a bigger battery can charge your phone if you have external battery devices either solar-powered chargers or ones that use double A batteries have those handy then track down all your cables and chargers one of the reasons is good to have those cables and adapters handy is if you need to go to another location to charge if maybe the power is out and you're in your home but maybe there's that power over at starbucks or at emergency center down the street car chargers or another way to power up in a pinch next turn off all the features on your phone that aren't necessary and drain the battery that includes the backlight and if you can't do that turn your screens brightness down Wi-Fi Bluetooth vibrate mode and all alerts and all push notifications facebook can wait till after the storm text instead of calling it uses less power but the best way to preserve battery life may be the hardest I think really the best advice is to just not fiddle with your phone you want to last as long as possible don't pick it up finally if you have an old phone lying around you should still be able to place an emergency call even if it's not activated in San Francisco I'm Sumi das cnet com for CBS News