Hurricane Season Is Here: Is Your Kitchen Ready?
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Collapse ▲June marks the official start of hurricane season, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Tropical Storm Helene, it’s that even here in the mountains, we’re not immune to storm impacts. Power outages, blocked roads, and water issues can leave us unprepared if we haven’t taken the time to stock up and plan ahead.
One of the easiest places to start preparing? Your kitchen.
Simple Pantry Staples to Keep Around
If you lose power, you may not be able to cook like usual. Keep a few non-perishable items on hand that don’t need to be refrigerated or heated. Good choices include:
- Canned fruits, veggies, beans, and meats (look for pop-top lids)
- Peanut butter or nut butters
- Crackers, granola bars, trail mix
- Instant oatmeal or noodles (if you can boil water)
- Shelf-stable milk or boxed milk alternatives
And don’t forget supplies for babies, pets, or anyone in your home with special needs.
Cool Trick for Your Freezer
If a storm knocks out your power (especially if it’s out for more than four hours), the food in your fridge and freezer can go bad pretty quickly. A good way to help things stay cold longer is to make sure your freezer is as full as possible, but not necessarily with food.
Try this:
Fill clean containers with water and freeze them. They help keep the freezer cold if the power goes out, and as the ice melts, you’ll have extra water on hand. Depending on how clean the containers were, this water could be used for things like washing up, flushing toilets, or even drinking in an emergency. Just remember to leave a little space at the top of each container for the water to expand as it freezes, and label the containers so you know what’s safe to use for drinking or hygiene.
A Little Prep Goes a Long Way
You don’t have to do everything at once, but a few small steps now can save a lot of stress later. Take time this month to look through your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Think about what you’d want to have on hand if the power went out for a few days.
Need help getting started? You’re in luck! Niki Maness, Yancey County’s Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent, will be hosting a class on Thursday, June 26th at 6:00 p.m. This class will cover the basics of creating a household emergency kit. Childcare and a light meal will be provided. There are only sixteen spots available, so grab yours quickly! Register for the class online , call the office at (828) 682-6186, or email niki_maness@ncsu.edu. We’re here to help you stay safe, informed, and prepared for whatever the season may bring.