During hurricane season, power outages and flooding can threaten your food supply, your bank account, and your peace of mind. But good storage and budgeting practices can help protect everything you have as well as keep you and your family safe during an emergency. Being prepared can go a long way in supporting peace of mind.
Today we will walk you through a guide that brings simple ways to keep your food safer for longer and tips to help you reduce storm-related financial stress.
Build an emergency fund
Creating a dedicated emergency fund is a key financial step in preparing for hurricane season. This fund acts as a buffer for unplanned, storm-related expenses such as temporary lodging, transportation, or even changes to your grocery budget if food access or prices are affected. Aim to save at least one week of typical household expenses.
Stock up gradually for your emergency food supply
Building an emergency food supply doesn't require purchasing everything at once. Instead, go slow and steady. Each time you visit the grocery store, add an extra non-perishable item or two to your cart—perhaps an extra can of beans, a box of shelf-stable milk, or a bag of rice. Develop a multi-day meal plan to ensure that items bought over time can be combined to create meals and snacks. Be sure to purchase “tried and true” items. When your family is under stress is not the time to introduce unfamiliar food products or combinations.
Also watch for sales, using coupons, and taking advantage of mobile savings apps or store loyalty rewards will maximize your resources as you build your meal-plan food supply.
Keep emergency cash on hand
Although digital banking provides ease and convenience, it’s also important to have a physical backup. In the wake of a hurricane, digital payment systems can quickly go offline. Power outages may render ATMs and credit card machines unusable, and banks may be closed. In these cases, cash is essential for food, fuel, and supplies. Merchants may refuse to take larger bills; a combination of smaller bills ($1, $5, $10, and $20) will give you greater flexibility and reduce the burden on the merchant to make change.
SNAP Benefits
In North Carolina, low-income residents can also count on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for help in purchasing food items.
If you would like to learn more about SNAP or if you need assistance applying, contact the More In My Basket team. This is an NC State Extension program that offers free SNAP application assistance in English, Spanish and Portuguese Monday through Friday, 8 am until 5 pm.
Contact the More In My Basket team toll free at 1-855-240-1451 (English and Portuguese), 1-888-382-7105 (Spanish) or visit their website at morefood.org.
Gather what you need
Before the storm is the time to gather thermometers and place them in your fridge and freezer, freeze ice packs, stock up on ice and coolers, and store bottled water.
Elevate and protect shelf-stable foods
Move canned goods, grains, and other pantry staples off the floor and onto higher, stable shelves – especially if you’re in a flood-prone area. Water damage or pests can make food unsafe even if it's never opened.
Use airtight containers and labels
Store dry goods like pasta, rice, flour, or cereal in airtight containers. Label everything with best-by dates. This helps prevent spoilage, keeps pests out, and makes it easier to take inventory quickly before and after a storm.
Choose cool, dry, and dark spaces
Pantries and cabinets should be cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight. Avoid storing food near stoves, dishwashers, or other heat-producing appliances. Even shelf-stable food can degrade in high humidity or heat.
Freeze smart
A full freezer holds cold longer than a half-full one. Group frozen items close together so they insulate each other. Freeze bottles of water or gel packs to help keep things cold longer during an outage. Fill empty space with plastic jugs of water, ice, or ice packs.
Know where its coldest
In your fridge, the coldest spot is usually the back of the bottom shelf. Store dairy, eggs, and leftovers there so they stay cold longer if the power goes out. If your fridge/freezer doesn’t have a built-in one, consider placing an inexpensive appliance thermometer inside.
Keep doors closed
Avoid opening the fridge or freezer during an outage. Cold air escapes fast. A full, unopened freezer can stay cold up to 48 hours; the refrigerator will keep food safe for about 4 hours if the door is unopened.
Shift to a cooler if needed
If outages last more than a few hours, move your most perishable items to a cooler with ice, ice packs, or frozen water bottles. Store raw meats in leak-proof containers and keep them separate from ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination.
By preparing your storage spaces and following our budget tips ahead of time, you’ll be protecting both your health and your household’s food security. Don’t wait for a power outage to take action; consider what you can do beforehand and start planning now so you can enjoy your summer and early fall days with ease.
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