Portable power stations can be a safer way to weather the next emergency

February's deep freeze and statewide blackouts have consumers looking to be better prepared for future emergencies. One solution - portable power stations. They're battery packs that can keep your electronics running without the noise and exhaust of a gas-powered generator.

"We didn't have any heat in the house," said Scott Bradford.

Bradford lost power for five days during the February freeze and vividly remembers what he missed most.

"The electric blanket," said Bradford. "It would have been nice to have been warm while we were sleeping."

Bradford had a power inverter, but it wasn't up to charging everything he needed during the storm.

"I certainly came up with some gaps which I immediately closed," said Bradford.

While Austin's blackout challenged some longtime preppers, it also created a rush of new ones looking for a safe way to keep phones, laptops, and space heaters powered up. One increasingly popular option is a portable power station.

"Start there," said Megan Wollerton who tested and reviewed rechargeable, battery-powered models for CNET.

Wollerton says the units are seeing a surge in popularity from people living in apartments and others not wanting to deal with the noise and exhaust of gas-powered portable generators.

"Do you feel like this could really help people if there were another February freeze and people lost their power for days?" asked CBS Austin reporter Bettie Cross.

"It's kind of a yes and no scenario," said Wollerton. "In terms of indoor safety, they're really the only way to go."

But here's why she also said no.

"You are limited in terms of the amount of power you can generate since they aren't technically generators," said Wollerton. "These devices store power, so they can be extremely useful for shorter periods of time."

A lunchbox-sized power station like the Rockpals Rockpower 300W will last for 280-watt hours. That means it would easily charge your laptop and smartphone. In the CNET test, a similar unit also powered a portable LED work light for about two and a half hours.

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"I was really impressed by how long they lasted," said Wollerton. "I found that they were extremely flexible and easy to use."

When the power stations are zapped with solar panels like the Rockpals 100W or EcoFlow 160W they can recharge the battery pack.

To figure out how much a portable power station can help you through an emergency make a shortlist of must-haves.

"What is it you're actually trying to run and for how long?" said Bradford.

Remember the electric blanket he mentioned. Bradford says larger units like the EcoFlow DELTA Power Station could power it for about 15 hours or 2 nights.

"I have this multi-hundred-dollar battery pack that I can use for 2 days and I was out of power for 5 days," said Bradford. "Keep your expectations under control as to what you think it's going to run and for how long."

Most portable power stations range in cost from $200 to $1200 depending on wattage, battery life, and the number of outlets and charging ports. To make them more cost-effective, experts recommend picking a model you can also use in the gaps between emergencies for camping and other outdoor activities.

"Do you feel like it's worth it for most people?" asked Cross. "I feel like it is, definitely for peace of mind," said Wollerton.