Sandy aftermath: How to prolong battery life and stay connected without power

If your cell phone battery is hanging on by a thread – and if you’ve made it this far, you’re already pretty fortunate – there are a few steps you can still take to get every last drop out of that baby. Granted, it’s a little bit late at this point (Warp Pipe would have passed along this information sooner -- if only its bloggers had the power to do so), but better late than never.

Without further ado, here are 11 steps you can take to make the most out of your battery life and reconnect with your friends, family, email and news while your power is out. If you have any additional tips, please help us update this list and keep Long Islanders charged up, by writing to us in the comments section below.

-- If driving isn’t too much of a safety issue, hop into your car and head to the local Starbucks (http://bit.ly/cSvfvf), Panera (http://bit.ly/H2vkkh) or another cafe. Many have free WiFi. And don’t forget to bring your charger, too, in case there are outlets available.

-- Many cable companies, including Optimum/Cablevision (http://bit.ly/breaN), Comcast/XFinity (http://bit.ly/JAijlX), Time Warner (http://bit.ly/qqeAaH) and AT&T (http://soc.att.com/w1BBG), have introduced a bevy of free WiFi spots to customers throughout Long Island over the past year. If you’re loaded with battery, download the apps these providers have that list all the nearby hot spots. If battery power is at a premium, walk around outside or circle the neighborhood in your car – you’d be surprised by how much WiFi is out there.

Again, if we left anything out, or if you have more suggestions, please drop us a line in the comments below.