Food-Emergency Preparedness

As our community continues to face an extremely challenging wildfire season, I thought

it would be helpful to send a few reminders about emergency food preparedness.

During an evacuation, which has already affected many people in our community, the

first priority is to leave. However if you have time to pre-plan or prepare your

evacuation, start now to pre-plan food safety and food access.

Pack Shelf Stable Food

If you have time, pack a bag of shelf stable pantry items to take with you. Consider the

needs of any family member has food allergies or food restrictions. Emergency shelters

may not be able to provide meals adapted to specific allergens or restricted diets.

If you have time, and space to carry food, bringing packaged foods like dried fruit, nuts, snack bars and crackers can help ease uncertainty related to food access during an emergency, particularly for populations at nutritional risk like infants, children, pregnant women or the elderly.

Pack at least one reusable water bottles per family member, if possible, take additional

water safe, resealable containers with you.

Secure Your Kitchen

Start by surveying all appliances. If your refrigerator has an ice maker, turn it off and

dump out the ice to prevent water damage in case the power goes out. Double check all other appliances – ovens, coffee makers and cooktops to make sure they are turned off. If possible, unplug all small kitchen appliances and if you have an outdoor grill, turn off the propone bottle.

Clean Out Perishables

If there is time to plan your evacuation, pack up your kitchen and clean out perishable

food items to maximize safety. Throw away food that is close to the expiration date and clean out or use up as much perishable food as possible. An empty freezer or refrigerator is the best way to avoid unnecessary clean up and inadvertent appliance damage due to spoiled food.

If a fridge clean out is not possible, shift items from the refrigerator into the freezer. A full freezer will stay cold longer than a partially full freezer if the power goes out. Chest

freezers – that are near full capacity can withstand up to 24 hours of no power, and

potentially longer, if they remain closed. Food in a freezer that is a drawer or in a side-

by-side attached to refrigerators can last up to 12 hours, unopened.

Find Food Assistance

As difficult as it to face uncertainty during an emergency situation, it is helpful to know

that there are many state, federal and community emergency food resources available.

One helpful resource, in the event that you evacuate outside of Leadville or Lake

County the website FindHelp.org Emergency Food Programs . You can look up your

current location by zip code and find food pantry locations and hours, emergency food

distribution sites and emergency SNAP benefits.

If you have questions or need additional guidance on how to navigate the emergency

food needs for yourself, your family or anyone you know in the community, please feel

free to reach out to me directly.

Karen Casey, MS RDN

Registered Dietician