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The original item was published from 2/8/2019 9:48:10 PM to 2/16/2019 12:05:01 AM.

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Posted on: February 8, 2019

[ARCHIVED] Safe Food and Waste Handling During Winter Storms

Some tips on how to safely handle, store and dispose of food and waste during winter storms

Contain garbage 

Weather conditions have delayed regular garbage pick-up. Until your provider is able to resume operations, store excess garbage securely in garbage bags and cans with lids to keep out of the reach of animals. Compact trash as much as possible so it will fit in the garbage cans. Do not burn garbage. 

Store and handle food safely 

Loss of power can quickly impact your food storage and ability to prepare meals. Don’t let your meals make you sick during an outage. 

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain temperature.  

  • A refrigerator will stay cold for about four hours if unopened.  

  • A full freezer will stay cold for about 48 hours if unopened. The freezer will not keep its temperature as long if it is less full. 

Be sure to thoroughly cook any meat, fish or eggs. If they have been stored at a temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more, discard them. When in doubt, throw it out. 

Do not store food outside, even in the winter, to keep it cold. Frozen food can thaw if the sun hits it, and the temperature outside is variable. Storing food outside can also expose it to unsanitary conditions or animals. Instead of storing food outside, consider using the low temperatures to make ice by filling buckets or empty cans with water and leaving them outside to freeze. The ice can be used to help keep food cool in your refrigerator or freezer. 

 

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