
Severe storms and hurricanes can lead to power outages and flooding. This can lead to unsafe food and drinking water. Prior planning can help you prepare for the storm with safe food and water.
Before the Storm:
- Place a refrigerator/freezer thermometer in your refrigerator and freezer before losing power.
- Make sure the temperature of your refrigerator is at 40 degrees F or colder and your freezer is at 0 degrees F or colder.
- Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the refrigerator, freezer or coolers once the power goes out.
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible when the power is off. This will help them stay cold inside.
- A refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if the door remains closed. Have coolers available to keep refrigerated foods cold if power is out for more than 4 hours.
- Freeze refrigerated foods like leftovers, milk and fresh meat that you may not need immediately.
- Group foods together in the freezer to help them stay cold longer. A full freezer will hold the temperature for about 48 hours, while a freezer that is half full will only maintain its temperature for about 24 hours if the door stays closed.
- Store boxed and canned foods and bottled water on high shelves to keep them away from contaminated water in case of flooding.
After the Storm
- Discard perishable refrigerated foods like meats, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items if the power stays off for more than 4 hours and the temperature of the food is not kept at 40 degrees F or colder.
- If power has been out for several days, check the thermometer in the freezer. If the temperature is 40 degrees F or colder or if the food still contains ice crystals, then it can be safely used.
- How long can you keep the food at 40 and still use it? Think about how long you would have been able to keep it in your refrigerator.
- Do not eat any food that may have come in contact with flood waters
- When the safety of drinking water supplies are in question, use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters.
- Filter cloudy water through clean cloth. Boil the water for one minute. After cooling for at least one minute, store the water in clean containers with lids.
- When in doubt, throw it out!