Preparing for Power Outages Allison M. Oesterle and Elizabeth L.
Andress National Center for Home Food Preservation Revised May
2013 Summer brings with it inclement weather such as hurricanes,
tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms, often resulting in power
outages. Donít be caught off guard by these outages. Plan ahead
and be prepared so that you can save the food in your
refrigerator and freezer, and maintain the safety and quality of
it. In preparation for bad weather, fill freezer bags with ice
to make ice packs or purchase freezer-pack inserts. Have coolers
available and easily accessible. Styrofoam ones work great. Make
sure you have a calibrated food thermometer for checking the
temperature of your potentially hazardous food. Find out now
where to purchase blocks of ice or dry ice; donít wait until the
emergency strikes to know if dry ice is even available in your
community. Also, turn refrigerators and freezers to the coldest
settings before an expected storm. When the power goes out,
unplug the freezer