ODM: Have enough food in your hurricane supply kit | THE DAILY HERALD

August 26, 2018

~Shares food safety tips ~

PHILIPSBURG–The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) urges residents to review their hurricane emergency supply kit and ensure they have enough non-perishable foods for a minimum of seven days in their homes.

“Residents are going to need supplies not just to get through the storm, but for the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath depending on the amount of damage that has been left behind by the passing of a hurricane,” ODM said in a press release. “This was clearly the case after the passing of Hurricane Irma in September 2017, when the curfew was in effect.”
ODM says every household must have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in the family a minimum of seven days. Electricity and water could be out for at least this long.
The objective is to minimise the potential for food-borne illnesses in the event of power outages associated with the passing of a hurricane. Hurricanes not only pose dangers to people’s physical safety, but also power outages can affect the safety of the food people may depend on after a hurricane has hit the island.
Before a hurricane, persons should keep an appliance thermometer in their refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature inside the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food.
Ensure that the freezer is at 0°F or below and the refrigerator is at 40°F or below. Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers after the power is out. Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that may not be needed immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer. Plan and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours. Purchase or make ice and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
Group food together in the freezer — this helps the food stay cold longer. Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
After a hurricane has passed, persons should keep their refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) and the door remains closed.
Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after four hours without power.
Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F or below when checked with a food thermometer. Never taste a food to determine its safety.
“When buying prepared food from restaurants after the passing of a storm or hurricane, ask critical questions about the food preparation and always use your senses: smell and taste, and if you suspect or doubt the quality of the food, throw it out,” ODM said. “Remember, it only takes one to make it a bad hurricane season. Make sure you are prepared.”