Keep your phone, other electronic devices charged during a power outage, here's how to do that

NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) -- Severe weather or natural disasters will almost always knock out power for some of us. The outage can last an hour or days.

And, for most of us, our phone is our lifeline. It's also our main source of communication to call for help and check on family members and neighbors.

ABC11 compiled a list of a few hacks you should keep handy in the event your area is in the path of severe weather.

Charge it before the storm hits

First things first, when a storm is in the forecast, it's a good idea to go ahead and fully charge your phone, especially if the storm may strike overnight.

Use your laptop

A fully charged laptop can help keep your phone up and running in an emergency situation. Get it fully charged beforehand and plug your phone in via USB.

Text, don't call