With hurricane season well under way, it’s important to remember to plan ahead. Before a storm hits, you want to be sure that you have non-perishable food items on hand. These items do not need to be refrigerated and are safe to eat if you lose power. You want to store non-perishable items higher up on your shelf or pantry so that if flooding occurs, the food will not get wet and contaminated. A lot of non-perishable items are canned goods, so be sure that you have a hand-operated can opener at home. If you don’t have one, purchase cans with pop-tops for opening.

Below are examples of non-perishable foods for safe eating during a hurricane power outage:

Additional food safety tips during/after a power outage:

During the storm while power is out

• Be sure to keep refrigerator and freezer doors tightly closed at all times. This will help preserve the cold temperature.
• If you have kept your refrigerator and freezer doors closed and you have lost power:
  • A refrigerator will keep its temperature for up to 4 hours.
  • A full freezer will keep its temperature for up to 48 hours.
  • A freezer that is half full will keep its temperature for up to 24 hours.

After the storm has passed and power is restored

• Your refrigerator should be at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below
• Your freezer should be at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Discard all perishable food that has been kept at unsafe temperatures.
  • Remember: When in doubt, throw it out!

Source:

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2020, February 25). A consumer’s guide to food safety: Severe storms and hurricanes.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/emergencies/consumers-guide-food-safety-severe

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