When lightning cracks and your lights go out, you usually aren’t concerned about staying eco-friendly while you stumble around in the dark. However, when it comes to loss of electricity during violent storms, the products that are the safest and most reliable to use are also the best for the environment. Here are four summer storm must-haves that are super green and super useful.

FLASHLIGHT
Ever had the lights blink out and had to reach for a flashlight only to find that its batteries are dead? Of course you have. Storing up extra batteries seems like a good idea until you forget why you bought them and inevitably use them for other things. Solution: wind-up flashlights. They are as green as it gets and will never run out of charge. Wind-up flashlights are the most reliable and safe form of light you have during a power outage, and there's no need to worry about finding batteries or dealing with unsafe candles.

WATER
Skip all that bottled water! Having water around is a good idea, but when a storm really hits and you're afraid your power might be out for a while, the first thing to do is grab a bucket and head to your sink. Storing tap water in buckets for later use works just as well as having lots of gallon-jugs of tap water, but without all the wasteful plastic. Besides, you’ll need water for more than just drinking! Don’t forget about washing and having plenty of water for your pets.

This article appears in Jun 23-29, 2011.