K-State Extension Food Safety

Salvaging and handling food after power outages, floods and other disasters may raise questions and present challenges. Refer to these resources to help recover food from a disaster.

Planning for an Emergency

The best way to survive an emergency is to plan ahead. Here are some tips for managing food supplies.

Make a Food Kit - Ready.gov
Food and Water in an Emergency - Red Cross
Emergency Preparedness - Food Safety and Inspection Service

Flood

When heavy rains fall, the potential for flooding increases. If you experience a flood, here are some tips to salvage food in your home.

Flood Survival and Recovery Fact Sheets - Kansas State University
Stay Healthy After the Flood - Kansas State University
Heavy Rainfall and Flooding in the Garden - Kansas State University
Soaking Rains, Floods put Flowers and Vegetables at Risk - Kansas State University

Power Outage Food Safety

A power outage can occur at any time, especially during severe weather. What happens to food stored in the refrigerator or freezer? Here are some web sites with information to help determine the safety of those foods.

What to do if Freezer Stops - (Spanish) National Center for Home Food Preservation
Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency - Food Safety and Inspection Service
A Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes - Food Safety and Inspection Service
Preparing for a Weather Emergency - Food Safety and Inspection Service
Keep Food Safe During Power Outage - Food Safety and Inspection Service
Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers - Food Safety and Inspection Service
Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency - Food Safety and Inspection Service
Hurricanes, Power Outages, and Floods - Food and Drug Administration

TV News Stories

Food Safety During a Power Outage
(Spanish)
(Sign Language) - USDA

tornado