Blizzards, tornadoes and floods, oh my! Prep for extreme weather with these essential buys

This highly rated rechargeable light will come in handy during power outages — especially with a runtime of up to 350 hours on its lowest setting. It's weather-resistant, which makes it ideal for camping. If you're in a pinch, it can charge your phone, too.

Over 900 buyers give this lantern five stars. According to one of them: "Loved the first one so much, I got two more. In the winter, our power goes out all the time. Last year, we had 7 or 8 outages of 12 hours or more. With these lanterns, we always had plenty of light, without having to dim to save power."

These faucet covers are a must to prevent your pipes from freezing — especially if you live in a region where pipes aren't as well-insulated because frigid temps are infrequent. They're made of heavyweight, waterproof polyester and attach with an adjustable cord.

More than 8,000 shoppers say these faucet covers are a must when the temperatures drop. As one satisfied buyer noted, they're substantial enough to stand up to Mother Nature's worst. "These 'socks' are thick and fit well on the outside faucets. They will work very well for the few freezing days we have in Louisiana. They give me peace of mind during the winter!"

If a winter storm knocks your heat out, these top-rated electric socks will work wonders helping to keep your feet cozy and toasty. They're made from a quick-drying polyester fabric and stay warm for up to 10 hours. 

For over 1,300 shoppers, these socks are a five-star buy. One fan said they're "just what my feet ordered! The directions are clear for first time users. The batteries last all day when used at low and most of the day at the medium setting. The fit and finish is excellent and they are easy to clean by following the directions."

Available in five colors, this magnetic power bank easily attaches right to the back of your smartphone and comes with a built-in kickstand. It also has an LED display to tell you how much power is left, and it's made from forgiving silicone that won't damage your phone. 

Almost 4,000 buyers say this power bank is the way to go. "I have a lot of wireless chargers and portable chargers," said one enthusiastic reviewer. "This one is the only one that has charged my phone, as I'm on it, from 30% to 100%! And the charger still has 28% left on it! Very impressed!"

Got a drawer full of batteries that may or may not work? Simplify your life with this clever organizer. It's a battery storage case that includes slots for all different sizes of batteries, plus it comes with a built-in battery tester. That means no more fumbling in the dark for AAs that turn out to be duds.

"If you’re anything like me, your batteries were in ziplock bags that were tucked in the junk drawer or cabinet in the kitchen," one happy shopper said. "Now that we have the Ontel Battery Daddy we no longer have that problem! All of our batteries are tucked away into one neat and compact container. ... It also helps you see what type of batteries you need when you’re almost out. In addition to that, the battery tester is perfect to test any batteries that you may be leery of due to age or being placed into something, but taken out before the batteries died."

Power outages are no problem when you have this Jackery power station. A bestseller on Amazon, this portable power station weighs just over 8 pounds, but it's strong enough to power devices that operate at less than 300 watts (think laptops, fans and small appliances).

Nearly 7,000 buyers say the Jackery is a five-star must. "Most power outages are not very long lasting. So, I didn’t want to fool with a generator," one buyer said. "... If the power goes out, no stress, we just grab the Jackery. It’s practically silent and light enough to move around by just about anyone. Is the Nintendo Switch low? No problem. Your Chromebook? Want to run the PS4 or Xbox One? No worries. Your phone, watch, tablet — again, zero stress — just plug it in. Wa-la, problems fixed."

When you need to brave blizzard-like conditions, these durable winter boots are up for the job. They're waterproof, so your feet will stay warm and dry whether you're trudging through inches of snow or sloshing through puddles after a storm.

"These boots have very good tread," one reviewer said. "They keep my feet warm in cold temps and in snow and I find the traction sufficient. I'm also a walker that takes long walks in the cold and the boots are comfortable for that purpose. My one complaint is the fabric in the side zipper area seems thin and cheap and makes a crinkly noise. That irritation aside, I appreciate the side zipper that makes it easier to put the boots on."

Digging your car out after a snowstorm is no one's idea of a good time, but it still has to be done. This handy snow brush works well to brush powder off your car's exterior, but it also has a scraper for removing ice without much effort at all.

"This product is lightweight," one buyer reports. "It has nice grip on it, and it’s adjustable. The brush is great — pretty long. The length of this product would be perfect for both of my sedans. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so I won’t need to use this often, but it will be very handy when I do need it, especially when it’s icy and snowy."

Believe it or not, shoveling snow doesn't have to be back-breaking work. The key? The right tools, of course. The Snow Joe Strain-Reducing Snow Shovel is a top pick among Amazon shoppers because it just does what the name says — it makes shoveling snow less strenuous thanks to a spring-assist handle and an ergonomic grip.

"I love this shovel!" raved one owner. "Its lightweight design with the added spring handle assist allowed me to avoid using so much of my low back muscles. I didn't have to bend over much at all, like I usually would. As for how it will hold up over time, that remains to be seen. The shovel is plastic, but seems sturdy. In this first use, its performance was solid, and it didn't bend. It has a good sharp blade on the edge of the shovel. It moves a decent amount of snow."

Frostbite is no one's friend, so when the weather is cold, you'll want a pair of reliable gloves. These are touchscreen compatible, so you won't have to endure freezing fingers just to send a text message or take a call. They come in five sizes, making it easy to find a good fit.

"I bought these for my job as, ironically, an Amazon delivery driver," one reviewer said. "My hands were killing me as the temperature dropped in the fall, but of course normal gloves don’t work because I need to use the rabbit’s touch screen. These did the trick for me. It’s been a couple of months and I use these for roughly 10 hours a day, and they’ve held up. Would recommend."

Yes, "the Amazon coat" lives up to the hype. Available in 12 colors and sizes XXS-5X, this is a winter essential. It will keep you warm on the coldest days, plus there are pockets galore for your phone, keys, lip balm and whatever else you need to carry.

"I am approximately 5'4", weigh around 120 pounds, am 72 years old, and I don't know why anyone wouldn't absolutely love this coat, no matter what your age," a satisfied buyer reports. "I got it yesterday, just in time, because Minnesota temps dropped to 19 degrees and very windy. This coat is lightweight and very warm. And it has seven pockets, so when I go shopping or to my part-time retirement job, I don't need a purse."