Elizabeth Weise / USA TODAY
FDA food safety and other tips
for hurricane preparedness
When in doubt, toss it out. That's the advice of food safety experts at the Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
If the power goes out:
Group food together in the freezer — this helps the food stay cold longer.
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
A 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.
Never taste food to determine its safety.
Buy dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for two days.
When the power comes back on:
If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer. If the appliance thermometer reads 40 degrees F or below, the food is safe to refreeze.
If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.
If food got wet:
Don't eat it. There are two things to worry about here, floodwater and rainwater. Floodwater is especially dangerous because it can contain sewer overflow, which can carry serious diseases.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with floodwater. Similarly, discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.
Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with floodwater with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches must be washed and sanitized. Remove labels that can habor bacteria.
But storms also bring rain, and rain can carry contamination. Rain that has fallen on roofs and then gets inside can be contaminated with bird feces or other materials and can be dangerous to consume.
Even rainwater that has fallen straight from the sky can be a problem because, in storms, water can have blown around and through houses, trees and other objects, bringing with it any contamination present on those surfaces.
Any food that came into contact with flood or rain water should be thrown out. That includes foods packed in plastic, paper, cardboard, cloth and similar containers that got water-damaged. The same applies to all food and beverage containers with screw-caps, snap lids, crimped caps (soda bottles), twist caps, flip tops and home canned foods. It's impossible to disinfect them, so they're not safe to eat.
Water
Your local health department should get the word out quickly if your local tap water is safe to drink as soon as the storm has passed. If it can't, use bottled water.
If you don't have bottled water, boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle and draw off the clear water for boiling. Boil the water for one minute, let it cool and store it in clean containers with covers.
Medications
If you can, put your medications in a sealed plastic bag and then inside a water-tight container to make sure they stay safe and dry before the storm hits.
If they get wet, you shouldn't use them. But if you have important, lifesaving drugs that you can't replace right away, and if the container is contaminated but the pills are still dry, it's OK to use them until you can get replacements. But if the pills are wet, they are contaminated and should be discarded.
Other items in a medicine cabinet that has become water-damaged, such as oral liquids, drugs for injections, inhalers and skin medications, should be discarded.
For diabetics who take insulin, it should stay refrigerated because insulin loses potency if it gets warm. However, under emergency conditions, you could still use insulin that has been stored above 86 degrees. But understand that such extreme temperatures may cause insulin to lose potency, which could result in loss of blood glucose control over time. Try to keep insulin as cool as possible, but if you are using ice avoid freezing it. When properly stored insulin becomes available, discard and replace the insulin vials that have been exposed to these extreme conditions.
Pets
If you're ordered to evacuate, take your pets with you if possible. Either put them in a carrier or on a leash so they don't get away. Remember that emergencies can make pets display unexpected or uncharacteristic behaviors. It may take several weeks before your pet's behavior is back to normal.
If you have to evacuate, bring along familiar toys to help them get used to new surroundings. For everyone's safety, you may also wish to bring a muzzle if your pet doesn't react well in stressful situations.
Do not stay behind with your pet if state or local officials order you to evacuate. Some evacuation shelters also have emergency pet shelters. If possible, bring with you a clear and current photo of your pet, as well as name, species and breed, sex, color, distinctive markings, age, microchip identification number, vaccination records, health conditions and required medication.
