Contributed by Julie Cascio, Home Economist, UAF Mat-Su/Copper River District Cooperative Extension Service
Unpredictable and often harsh Alaskan winter weather can challenge cheechakoes and sourdoughs.
Loss of power, unpredictable roads or well pumps that freeze can disrupt our regular routines. Preparing for winter emergencies can eliminate a major source of stress for you, your family or others you care for, such as an elderly relative or neighbor.
Planning ahead for winter storm emergencies can range from keeping a few basic items on hand to a well-organized long-term emergency food supply. Regardless of which method you choose, the ABC's of keeping food safe in an emergency can help you plan what you'll need.
A - Always keep meat, poultry, fish and eggs refrigerated at or below 40 degrees F. and frozen food at or below 0 degrees F. This may be challenging if there is no power! Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. Once the power goes off, the refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours if it's unopened.
A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if its half full) if the door remains closed. An appliance thermometer in the freezer and refrigerator will help you decide which foods can be safely refrozen when the power comes back on.
B - Be prepared by stocking up on foods that don't need to be refrigerated and can be eaten cold. Some examples of foods to keep on hand are:
▪ Water. Store one gallon per person per day.
▪ Ready-to-eat canned foods such as vegetables, fruit, beans, meat, fish, poultry, pasta, soup
▪ Smoked or dried meats, commercial beef jerky
▪ Dried fruits and vegetables such as craisins or fruit leather
▪ Juices (vegetable and fruit) bottled, canned or powdered
▪ Milk that has been powdered, canned, evaporated
▪ Staples such as sugar, instant potatoes and rice, coffee, tea, cocoa mix
▪ Ready-to-eat cereals, instant hot cereals, crackers
▪ High energy foods like peanut butter, nuts, trail mix, granola bars
▪ Ready-to-use baby formula for infants and pet food for pets
▪ Manual can opener
C - Consider what you can do ahead of time to store food safely in an emergency. For example, keep an insulated cooler on hand to keep food cold if the power is out for more than four hours. Keep frozen gel packs or blocks of ice in your freezer and use these to keep perishable food cold in the cooler.
When the power is out, extra care is needed to keep food safe. These general food safety tips apply every day but are especially important when food preparation routines are disrupted:
▪ Wash hands and preparation surfaces often.
▪ Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods.
▪ Cook food to recommended temperatures.
▪ Keep cold food cold and hot food hot.
▪ Follow the two-hour rule. Throw out perishable food stored at temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 or more hours.
In addition to food safety, keeping your home warm in cold days, renewable energy resources, insulating an existing house, emergency preparedness information and more is available through www.CESpubs.uaf.edu
Take some time now to prepare for unpredictable days that may happen this winter.