Community Corner

5 Foods to Stock in Preparing for a Hurricane

Heading out to brave the crowds today to stock up for the looming Frankenstorm, but are wondering what foods you should have on hand? Check out this list of five suggestions plus other food-related storm tips.

 

With threats of a major storm and the possibility of losing power, you may be wondering what foods to stock up on that won't need refrigeration. 

Here's a list of 5 suggestions that won't let you go hungry during the storm:

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  1. Protein or fruit bars.
  2. Dry cereal or granola.
  3. Nuts or peanut butter.
  4. Canned juices or fruits.
  5. Ramen noodles (they just need hot water and voila-instant meal).

FEMA recommends that you prepare for a storm by having at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food for each member of your family. Additionally, in the case of potential long-term power outages, FEMA suggests you stock up on canned foods, dry mixes and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation.

Here are some tips from FEMA on how to manage food without power:

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Be Prepared:

  • Have a refrigerator thermometer.
  • Know where you can get dry ice.
  • Keep a few days’ worth of ready-to-eat foods on hand that do not require cooking or cooling.

When the Power Goes Out:

  • Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
  • The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
  • Refrigerators should be kept at 40° F or below for proper food storage.

Once the Power is Restored:

  • Check the temperature inside the refrigerator and freezer.
  • If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on. If the freezer thermometer reads 40° F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. You can't rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40° F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
  • Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible.
  • Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40° F for two hours or more.

Using Dry Ice:

  • Under normal circumstances you should not keep dry ice in your freezer. If your freezer is functioning properly it will cause the unit to become too cold and your freezer may shut off. However, if you lose power for an extended period of time, dry ice is the best way to keep things cold.
  • Twenty-five pounds of dry ice will keep a 10-cubic-foot freezer below freezing for 3-4 days.
  • If you use dry ice to keep your food cold, make sure it does not come in direct contact with the food.
  • Use care when handling dry ice, wear dry, heavy gloves to avoid injury.

For more information on preparing for a storm, visit www.ready.gov.


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