Hurricane Preparedness - Food And Water

Advance preparation is a key to food safety during a hurricane and the floods that can accompany it. Those living in hurricane areas should keep adequate supplies on hand because power will likely be disrupted, putting food in danger.

Emergency Supplies! What are needed?

• Food and water for 4 to 5 days
• Hand can opener
• Battery-powered radio
• Extra Batteries
• Camp stove or other emergency cooking equipment.
• Flashlights, candles, matches, kerosene lamp, fire extinguisher and first aid kit.

Safe Handling of 'Flooded Foods'

Food Safety: without electricity, food in you refrigerator could spoil in a few hours. Don't eat it. Food in a freezer could partially thaw, but would be safe to cat for several days. Food should not be refrozen once it begins to thaw.

When In Doubt, Throw it Out!

Discard:

• Meat, poultry, fish and eggs
• Fresh produce

Discard:

• Meat, poultry, fish and eggs
• Fresh produce
• James/jellies sealed with paraffin
• Home canned foods
• Commercial glass jars of food or beverages including “never” opened jars with waxed cardboard seals such as mayonnaise and salad dressing, corks, pop tops, or peel-off tops.
• All foods in cardboard boxes, paper, foil, cellophane or cloth.
• Spices, seasonings and extracts.
• Opened containers.
• Flour, sugar, grain, coffee and other staples in canisters.
• Cans dented or rusted.

Save:

1. Undamaged commercial canned goods are safe if sanitized
2. To sanitize cans first mark contents on can lid with indelible ink. Remove labels, paper can harbor dangerous bacteria. Then wash cans in a strong detergent solution using a scrub brush. Finally, immerse containers for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach per quart of room temperature water. Air dry before opening.
3. Sanitize dishes and glassware the same way. To disinfect metal pans and utensils, boil them in water 10 minutes. Discard wooden spoons, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.

Water Supply Preparation

1. Purchase bottled water or
   Using water from your taps, store water in clean plastic food grade containers, such as 2-liter soda bottles, with tight-fitting screw-cap lids. Milk containers are not recommended, they do not seal well.

Drinking Water Needs after a Hurricane!

Daily:

Plan on one gallon of water for each family member or guest per day for drinking, food preparation, and personal hygiene during an emergency. Some food supplies such as soda or fruit juice can be substituted for drinking water, but you will still need drinking water for mixing and cooking food. Be sure to plan for water for any pets. Your Veterinarian or humane society can provide guidelines for pet water needs.

72 Hours is the minimum planning period. Emergency services planning by local and state governments is based on the assumption that households will take care of their own food and water needs for the first 72 hours.

While provision of safe water is one of the first goals after an emergency occurs, it can take several days for a minimal drinking water supply to become available.

Extended emergency situations can and do occur. It is prudent to plan to meet household water needs beyond the minimum 72 hours, perhaps for as long as two weeks. Particularly in remote areas. A mix of strategies might be considered such as storing water for the first 72 hours and treatment of water if needed for extended periods. Do not drink water from the faucet until officially notified that it is safe from contamination. Use your emergency supply or boil tap water before drinking it.

Call the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-800-535-4555, your local American Red Cross chapter, Civil Defense or emergency management office for additional information about handling food in disasters.