Joining Online Meetings During a Power Outage
- Introduction
- What to Do When a Power Outage Occurs
- Power Outages in the U.S.
- Useful Items to Have During a Short Power Outage
- Using a Portable Power Station
- Joining Online Meetings Using iPhone Internet Sharing
- Using Flashlights Indoors During the Day
- Black+Decker 20V Battery System
- Don’t Forget Regular Charging and Maintenance
- Conclusion
- Related Products
Introduction
Power outages occur more frequently in the United States than in Japan, especially in Boulder County, Colorado.
In my neighborhood alone, there were three power outages in July and August 2024.
The longest one lasted from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, right in the middle of a weekday.
In this article, I explain how to continue working and join online meetings with a camera-enabled laptop during a power outage, using portable power stations and a smartphone.
What to Do When a Power Outage Occurs
When a power outage happens, the first step is to report it to the electric utility company.
In addition to using your registered online account, most utilities allow you to report outages using your registered mobile phone number, which is helpful in urgent situations.
After reporting, you usually receive an estimated restoration time, which helps with planning.
Power Outages in the U.S.
The power outage in July was not caused by high electricity demand, but by a utility equipment failure.
This type of outage is fairly common in the U.S., even on clear summer days.
Useful Items to Have During a Short Power Outage
For temporary outages lasting a few hours, it is helpful to have at least the following items:
- Smartphone with tethering / hotspot capability
- Portable power station
- Battery-powered flashlights (preferably using a common battery system)
Using a Portable Power Station
During a power outage, a portable power station allows you to:
- Recharge smartphones with depleted batteries
- Use electronic devices that require 120V AC power
You can also power devices such as:
- Laptops
- External monitors
- Other 120V electronic equipment
By using a power strip, you can operate multiple devices simultaneously, as long as the total load stays within the power station’s capacity.
During one outage, I connected:
- Two laptops
- Two monitors
- Additional small devices
Joining Online Meetings Using iPhone Internet Sharing
If your mobile carrier’s data network is available, you can share your internet connection using iPhone Personal Hotspot.
Steps:
(1) Open Settings → Personal Hotspot
(2) Configure the following options:
- Turn on Allow Others to Join
- Set a custom Wi-Fi Password
- Enable Maximize Compatibility
(This ensures compatibility with Windows PCs and older devices)
After this, connect your laptop to the iPhone’s Wi-Fi network.
You can then join online meetings such as Microsoft Teams from your computer.
For better stability, it is recommended to turn off the camera and use audio only, if possible.
Using Flashlights Indoors During the Day
Even during daylight hours, areas such as basements and bathrooms can become very dark during a power outage.
It is extremely useful to have multiple flashlights that share a common battery system, ideally placed permanently in each room.
In my home, flashlights are located on:
- Second floor
- First floor
- Basement
- Bathrooms
- Garage
In total, I have around 10 flashlights.
Black+Decker 20V Battery System
Black+Decker 20V Work Light
These batteries are interchangeable with other tools such as:
- Chainsaws
- Air pumps
- Leaf blowers
- Electric drills
This shared battery ecosystem is very convenient.
While I use Black+Decker, similar systems are available from DeWalt, Milwaukee, and other manufacturers.
These products are often deeply discounted during Black Friday sales.
Don’t Forget Regular Charging and Maintenance
To ensure your portable power station is ready when needed, remember to recharge it regularly, ideally once every few months.
Conclusion
Unexpected power outages occurred three times in July and August, including weekday mornings around 7:00 AM.
By the second and third outages in August, the experience from the first outage proved extremely helpful.
Portable power stations and flashlights are useful not only for short power outages, but also during large-scale disasters and evacuations.
I personally experienced this during the Marshall Fire, where such equipment was invaluable.
Keeping these items on hand is highly recommended.
Related Products
(Amazon US)
BLACK+DECKER 20V LED Work Light / Jackery Portable Power Station
