Food Safety And Disasters

Be prepared when disaster strikes.

Disasters don't arrive on schedule, but you can be prepared to keep your family safe and healthy when the unexpected happens. Looking to build an emergency food supply? Find information below on general cleaning and sanitizing, what to do in a kitchen fire and how to prevent them, food safety in a power outage, creating meals without electricity, cleaning up a kitchen after a flood,  and handling boil orders.

Power Outages, Floods, and Boil Orders 

Did the lights go out? Are you reading this by candlelight or the glow of your cell phone? You may still be able to save the food in the refrigerator! During power outages, creating meals and keeping food safe can be challenging. Following a boil order and knowing how to clean after a flood can be a struggle. Have you ever been under a boil-water advisory and unsure what to do? Let Extension give you tools to save food, safely clean up after a flood, create unique meals, and tips for following a boil order.

Printable Info Sheets

Power Outage
Long-term power outages lasting hours to weeks can be much more inconvenient than short-term outages lasting seconds or minutes.
Meals Without Electricity
Put together nutritious meals, even when access to refrigeration or electric appliances is unavailable for days or weeks.
Floods
Flooding can affect food safety. Learn how to prep for a flood, what foods to keep and what to toss, and how to safely clean kitchenware.
Boil Orders
Find out what to do during a boil order, how to safely wash dishes, and prepare baby formula.

Home fire disasters happen to 2 million Americans each year, with over half caused by cooking equipment.

Knowing where a fire extinguisher is and how to use it are essential aspects of food and kitchen safety. Be prepared by purchasing the right type of extinguisher and knowing how to store, use, and inspect it properly.

Kitchen Fire Extinguishers     Kitchen Fire Prevention and Safety

 

How Clean Is Your Kitchen? 

Do you remember the last time you cleaned your coffee maker? Extension is here to help! Cleaning and sanitizing the kitchen are essential steps in preventing foodborne illness. Learn how to make your own bleach sanitizer — and remember, not every appliance should be cleaned in the same way. 

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and sanitizing equipment.

Have more questions about keeping your kitchen clean? Visit our cleaning the kitchen website.                                                                                                                                                                     

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