Disaster Preparedness
Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice storms and other natural disasters can cause power outages or water damage that can put refrigerated, frozen and dry foods at risk. This page provides resources for how to handle food when disaster strikes.
Preparing for a Power Outage
- Purchase or locate thermometers. Place a thermometer in your refrigerator and freezer; have a tip-sensitive digital thermometer ready to check food temperatures. Foods that can support the growth of pathogens (like cooked vegetables, cooked and raw meats and cut melons, leafy greens and tomatoes) are riskier after being held above 41F for more than 4hrs.
- Check stock of refrigerator. Purchase or prepare food items that don’t require refrigeration and can be eaten cold or heated on an outdoor grill.
- Store or purchase water incase case water systems are impacted resulting in boil water advisories. Use bottled/clean water for everything from brushing teeth, cooking.
- Prepare coolers and purchase ice and dry ice. Use dry ice to extend the amount of time food stay below 41F. Freeze containers of water for ice or purchase ice.
Resources and Information – English
Food
- Preparing for a Hurricane
- Preparing for a Hurricane: Infant Food Safety
- Recovering from a Hurricane: Frozen and Refrigerated Food
- Meal Preparation and Food Safety After a Power Failures from a Hurricane
- Safe Food After Hurricane Flooding
- Kitchen Cleanup After Hurricane Flooding
- Recovering from a Flood: Garden Flooding
Water
- What to Do During a Boil Water Advisory (CDC Fact Sheet)
- Making Water Safe in an Emergency (CDC)
- Making Water Safe (CDC Fact Sheet)
- What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly (CDC)
- Keep Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Emergency (CDC)
Recursos e información – español (Resources and Information – Spanish)
Comida
- Preparándose para el Huracán Florence (Preparing for a Hurricane)
- Preparándonos para el Huracán: Seguridad de Alimentos para Bebés (Preparing for Hurricane: Infant Food Safety)
- Recuperándose del Huracán: Alimentos Refrigerados y Congelados (Recovering from Hurricane: Frozen and Refrigerated Food)
- Prepare y Mantenga los Alimentos Seguros Después de un Fallo de Energía Causado por el Huracán (Meal Preparation after a Power Failure from Hurricane)
- Recuperándose del Huracán: Alimentos Seguros Después de la Inundación (Safe Food After Flooding from Hurricane)
- Limpieza de la Cocina después de la Inundación Causada por el Huracán (Kitchen Clean Up after Hurricane Flooding)
Agua
- Lo que necesita saber en caso de un corte inesperado de la electricidad (CDC Fact Sheet) (What You Need to Know When the Power Goes Out Unexpectedly)
- Como desiinfectar el agua (CDC Fact Sheet) (Making Water Safe in an Emergency)
- Mantenga los alimentos y el agua seguros después de un desastre natural (CDC) (Keeping Food and Water Safe After a Disaster or Emergency)