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Storm Updates - 12/12/08 | 12/13/08 | 12/14/08 | 12/15/08
>>Storm Updates 12/16/08 - 1300 | 1500
VERMONT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
NEWS ADVISORY
Date: |
12/16/08 |
|
Contact: |
Mark Bosma, Public Information Officer |
Power Outage Food Safety Tips
Media Contact: Communication Office
Vermont Department of Health
802-863-7281
BURLINGTON – The Vermont Department of Heath is advising anyone who lost power following the ice storm in central and southern Vermont to take precautions to avoid eating food that may be unsafe.
Even if food does not smell bad, and even if it looks safe, it may have been out of a safe temperature range long enough to have become contaminated with dangerous bacteria.
Food that may have fallen out of the approved temperature range of about 40 degrees may not be safe.
The Health Department has the following food safety tips:
About food in a freezer:
- Without power, a full upright or chest freezer will keep everything frozen for about two days. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about one day.
- If power will be coming back on fairly soon, you can make the food last longer by keeping the door shut as much as possible.
- If power will be off for an extended period, if possible, take food to friends’ freezers.
About food in a refrigerator/freezer:
- Without power, the refrigerator section will keep food cool for 4-6 hours depending on the kitchen temperature.
- A full, well-functioning freezer unit should keep food frozen for two days. A half-full freezer unit should keep things frozen for about one day.
- Discard perishable foods like eggs, meat, fish, or milk that has been above 40 degrees for more than four to six hours.
About thawed food:
- Food still containing ice crystals or that feels refrigerator-cold can be refrozen.
- Discard any thawed food that has risen to room temperature and remained there for two hours or more.
- Immediately discard any food with a strange color or odor.
Finally, the best advice is “if in doubt, throw it out.”
_________________________________________________________
VERMONT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
NEWS ADVISORY
Date: |
12/16/08 |
|
Contact: |
Mark Bosma, Public Information Officer |
Tuesday Storm Update
WATERBURY, VT— Power outages in southern Vermont currently stand at 3,400; mostly in Windham County as Windsor County is down to 280 outages. Vermont utilities have added crews from northern Vermont and Canadian power companies to assist their workers in restoration efforts.
Warming facilities are still open in Wilmington at Twin Valley Union High School and at the Whitingham Elementary and Middle School. These facilities are open between the hours of 6am and 7pm each day; the Wilmington facility is also serving meals to those in need.
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is asking the public for generators to help farmers who have been without power for the past several days. If you have an appropriate generator that you can lend to a farm please call the Vt. Agriculture Agency at 802-828-3479 or 802-224-6928.
Vermont Emergency Management has distributed forms to towns asking officials to report any public infrastructure damage to Vermont Emergency Management. This data is needed to determine if the state may qualify for a federal disaster declaration. It is still too early to determine if Vermont will qualify for federal aid.
For shelter information or other personal assistance, residents should call 211.