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The United States Department of Agriculture is providing tips for food safety during a Hurricane.
Hurricanes present the possibility of power outages and flooding that can compromise the safety of stored food.
The USDA says residents in the path of this hurricane should pay close attention to the forecast.
The USDA says there are some things you can do to keep your food safe:
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed.
- A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
- Place meat and poultry to one side of the freezer or on a tray to prevent cross-contamination of thawing juices.
- Use dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible during an extended power outage.
- Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days
If you have questions about food safety during severe weather, or any other food safety topics, call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888MPHotline or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov.
These services are available in English and Spanish from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Answers to frequently asked question can also be found 24/7 at AskKaren.gov.
