New food safety infosheet, Hurricane Earl edition: Be ready for storms

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I’ve lived in North Carolina for just over 20 months and have yet to see the effects of a hurricane. Snow has shut things down in Raleigh a few times since December 2008, but nothing crazy has happened during the summer months. Our power went out about a month ago after a fire at a nearby power station and although it was 8:30pm, it only took 3 hours without electricity for the temperature in our house to go up about 5 or 6 degrees.

Living like that for a couple of days is a slight possibility with Hurricane Earl on its way sort of towards us. Fortuntely we’re far enough inland that it looks like we wont see the full effect, but many on the coast could find themselves without electricity, dealing with hot temps (close to 100F is forecasted for Friday) and a fridge/freezer full of food. Not fun.

Having a bit of a plan and prepping for losing power prior to an event can save food losses and reduce foodborne illness risks. That’s the focus of the newest food safety infosheet (which can be found here).

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About Ben Chapman

Dr. Ben Chapman is a professor and food safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University. As a teenager, a Saturday afternoon viewing of the classic cable movie, Outbreak, sparked his interest in pathogens and public health. With the goal of less foodborne illness, his group designs, implements, and evaluates food safety strategies, messages, and media from farm-to-fork. Through reality-based research, Chapman investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers, and organizational decision-makers; the gate keepers of safe food. Ben co-hosts a biweekly podcast called Food Safety Talk and tries to further engage folks online through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and, maybe not surprisingly, Pinterest. Follow on Twitter @benjaminchapman.