Emergency supplies are hot Christmas gift ideas.

Forget the latest electronic gadgets. The hot Christmas gifts in Tulsa this year are things that are literally hot: like a propane lantern.

The recent ice storm and subsequent power outage that left thousands in the cold and dark seem to have people revising priorities on their Christmas lists.

What Tulsans really want under the tree is a butane powered jet-boil stove, said Mandy Koeninger, Backwoods operating manager.

“It’s one of those things where they saw others using them, so they’re getting them for stocking stuffers,” she said.

When Backwoods employees used miner-style head lamps during power outages, those became popular items, as well, she said.

“Everyone’s gotten those for Christmas,” she said. “It’s all about being prepared now.”

When batteries and propane were in short supply, people turned to crank radios and crank flashlights to make it through power outages, said Chris Koeninger, Broken Arrow Bass Pro Shops merchandise manager. Such items are still disappearing off shelves quickly, he said.

“We had new trucks coming in every day,” he said.

“There’s still a lot of people with these emergencies on their mind who want to be prepared should it happen again.”

Sandra Christian of Army- Navy Surplus said she has never seen such demand for lanterns or heaters.

“They were making sure their family was taken care of,” Christian said.

Even as the number

“One lady came in that was making up emergency kit backpacks for her family for Christmas,” she said.

While more traditional gifts such as winter clothing and candles are still popular, Monteith said customers are also taking home cook stoves, coffee pots and generators.

“They want the candles that would burn the longest, like the ones that burn 36 hours,” she said.

Chris Koeninger of Bass Pro Shops said that, like customers, retailers are looking ahead to the next storm.

“We have enough propane to last through the winter if this happens again,” he said.

Some hot gifts after an icy week

• Flashlights, no-battery flashlights
• Batteries
• Propane heaters, especially portable ones
• Propane lanterns
• Generators
• Chain saws and gas cans
• Candles

Althea Peterson 581-8361
althea.peterson@tulsaworld.com