University of Wisconsin-Extension
Damaged
food supplies, water contamination and temporary loss of refrigeration
may be critical issues for you as a tornado survivor. While
structural damage may be the initial focus in your home, some
basic precautions can keep your food stores safe and your
family healthy as you begin clean-up efforts.
If
you live in an area susceptible to tornadoes, keep an adequate
supply of food, bottled water and emergency equipment on hand.
This includes enough canned food to last four to five days,
a hand can opener, battery-powered radio, extra batteries
and emergency cooking equipment like a camp stove with fuel
to operate it.
The water
supply may be disrupted or contaminated after an area has
sustained a tornado. Food in damaged buildings and homes may
be hazardous. Follow these precautions:
- Drink
only approved or chlorinated water.
- Consider
all water from wells, cisterns and other delivery systems
in the disaster area unsafe until tested.
- Check
foods and discard any containing particles of glass or slivers
of other debris.
- Discard
canned foods with broken seams.
If the
electricity is off to the refrigerator or freezer, follow
these guidelines:
- Discard
refrigerated meats, seafood, milk, soft cheese, eggs, prepared
foods and cookie doughs if they have been kept above 40
degrees F. for over two hours. Also discard thawed items
that have warmed above 40 degrees F., with the exception
of breads and plain cakes.
- Discard
any refrigerated items that turn moldy or have an unusual
odor or appearance.
- Refreeze
partially or completely frozen foods.
- Cold
but fully thawed, uncooked meat, fish or poultry should
be checked for off-odor. If there is none, cook and eat
or cook and refreeze.
- Discard
combination dishes such as stews, casseroles and meat pies
if they are thawed.
- Refreeze
thawed (but cold) juices, baked goods, and dairy items such
as cream, cheese and butter.
- Do
not refreeze thawed vegetables unless ice crystals remain.
Cook and use them if there are no off-odors.
Additional resources:
Your county family living agent, your local emergency government office, the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Related publications:
UW-Extension Publications-
"Management of Food for Emergencies," (B3045);
"Quick Consumer Guide to Safe Food Handling," (BG248);
"When the Home Freezer Stops," (B2837);
"Keeping Food Safely," (B3474).
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
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