Long before the invention of electricity, lanterns lit American homes for more than a century. Even in this modern electronic age many people think that the traditional American lantern may again become recognized as a reliable and safe source of home lighting.

Be prepared — don’t leave your family standing in the dark!

According to experts it is prudent to be prepared for power outages. Here in Vermont we saw just such an outage (blackout) from a severe ice storm several winters ago. Ask the residents of northern Vermont or eastern Canada (Montreal) if they think its silly to be prepared. If you are one of those millions of intelligent Americans now planning for alternative lighting, then we strongly recommend that you purchase a minimum of four or more Vermont Oil Lanterns for your home.

Lamp oil, liquid paraffin, kerosene, and citronella oil are currently readily available fuels, sold most anywhere in the United States, which can be safely burned in our Vermont Oil Lanterns. Purchase a few gallons of fuel from your local dealer and store it safely away with your Vermont Oil Lanterns. Sit back with your family and relax — you are now ready, if and when a natural disaster causes a power outage.

Alternatively, you may be thinking that a dozen candles and a flashlight on hand will easily take care of any emergency situation caused by power cuts or black outs. That’s true, provided the situation does not have aggravating circumstances. In a prolonged emergency situation, when the power grid has failed, power outages could conceivably last much more than a couple of days. In such a scenario, battery powered lighting units will begin to fail, and widespread use of candles presents a formidable danger to life and property.

Every year, candles cause more than 9,000 domestic fires in the United States alone, resulting in property damages in the millions of dollars, and deaths in the hundreds. The American National Red Cross advises against candles. Why risk it? If you are going to prepare for a blackout, then keep the safety of your family a high priority. Our Vermont Oil Lanterns are a time-tested part of American history, safe and easy to operate.

In the event that the power grid goes down, the family whose home is lit by a Vermont Oil Lantern will look like a family of technological wizards. The neighbors will say, "Why didn’t I think of that?" So you might want to stock a couple of extra lanterns just to help out the family next door. After all, survival is about working together and helping our neighbors.

We don't buy the doomsday lines, that prophesy TEOTWAWKI. We believe in the old Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared." Whats wrong with that? Otherwise why do we wear seat belts and have insurance? I sure sleep a lot better knowing we are prepared for most situations.

What are you going to do if the grid goes down? We have done the math and it would literally take an act of God to supply each and every home in America with alternative lighting if a power outage strikes again. Our staff is dedicated to meeting that challenge, but sadly someone is going to be left in the dark. We hope that’s not you.