You see that battery meter dwindling down to zero. There's a knot in your stomach. You'd pay anything just to squeeze another 10 minutes from your phone.

Your panic is justified. Not only does a dead phone battery cut you off from communication with the outside world, but it strips you of your contact book as well. There was a time when I could remember close to a dozen phone numbers off the top of my head. But today, I can barely remember my wife's number without the aid of my phone.

Now playing: Watch this: Power your phone in an emergency

Fortunately, there are a number inexpensive charging accessories you can stock up on that will save your hide in an emergency. Many of these you can keep in your car's glove compartment, and a few make a nice addition to a household emergency kit.

The following gallery includes a general roundup of your emergency charging options, along with a few surprises not shown in the above video.