Transcript:

Disasters like wildfires and hurricanes can destroy electrical lines, leading to long blackouts.

When the power is out, it’s only a matter of time before the food in the fridge and freezer starts to go bad.

So if you think you might lose electricity, stock up on foods that do not need to be refrigerated, like crackers, peanut butter, cereal, and apples.

Move refrigerated foods into the freezer so they’ll stay cold for a longer time without power. You can also store food in a cooler filled with ice.

If you need to cook, you can use an outdoor grill when the weather is safe. Or if you have a gas stove, you may be able to manually light it with matches.

During a blackout, keep the fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible so the food stays cold. But if the power stays out for four hours or more, toss anything in the fridge that can go bad, like meat, milk, leftovers, or eggs.

Do the same if a refrigerator thermometer shows that the temperature in the fridge has risen above 40 degrees. And if you’re not sure if something is still safe to eat, throw it out.

As climate change causes more extreme weather, power outages may become more likely. But preparing ahead of time can help you get through a blackout safely.

Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media