Don't Forget Your Freezer

[Downdraft]

Make it a goal to empty out the freezer before the season starts. If the power goes out for awhile your going to lose everything in it so eat it up before the main event. Once it's reasonable empty only put in what your going to eat on a week by week basis. With all the freed up room you'll have a lot more room to store ice before the storm hits.

[bevgo]

As I empty my freezer I fill it with gallon jugs of water--just need to open and pour out a bit so they dont expand too much. This insures that there is water available for hubby and daughter when the hospital allows them to go home and keeps the freezer working efficiently. I keep very little in it during the season.

[MGC]

During hurricane season, we only keep a couple of days of perishable foods on hand. Keeping frozen water jugs is a good idea. I remember after Hurricane Betsy we would get a block of ice and put the ice in a pot and keep it in the refridg. Hopefully none of us will have to use this...MGC

[olddude]

I understand the reasoning for emptying out the freezer prior to season but I don't adhere to that reasoning. That is why I have a generator. The freezer is a part of my food storage program that I maintain for all emergencies. It is also the first food that I eat after a storm has passed. I can maintain the freezer with as little as 2 hours of run time per day, a bit longer if I am trying to make more ice. This year my goal is to pick up a Honda eu 2000 just for the freezer and a small nightime a/c unit and save the the Honda 10000 for when fuel is again available.

Scott