Bracing for a Blizzard

The National Weather Service’s current blizzard warning affects the East Coast from central New Jersey to the Canadian border. That includes the metro New York area this afternoon through Wednesday, so be sure to have enough food and water for a few days in case you get stranded.

Store one gallon of water per day for each person in your home. Make sure to keep food in a dry, cool spot so it stays fresh and free from spoilage, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The best choices require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking. It’s still possible for food to spoil during the winter.

Remember special diets and allergies and consideration for babies and the elderly. Nursing mothers may need liquid formula in case they can’t breastfeed. Keep canned dietetic food, juice and soup handy for those with special dietary considerations.

Keep a manual can opener and disposable dishes and utensils handy. If your home loses power, first eat food in the refrigerator, then the freezer and finally from stored supplies. Throw out perishable foods (like meat, poultry and dairy) that have been left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Never eat food from cans that have become swollen, dented or corroded.

To cook without electricity, avoid smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning by setting up a grill or camp stove outside, more than 20 feet away from your home. To heat food in its can, first remove the lid and label. Never leave open flames unattended.

Finally, keep your hands clean. If you don’t have soap and running water, use alcohol-based hand gels or wipes to clean hands. Regardless of weather conditions, this is still one of the best ways to keep from getting sick.

The North Shore-LIJ Division of Corporate Security and Emergency Management maintains the safety of patients and employees. The emergency-management team oversees disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery programs to maintain North Shore-LIJ’s standards of service and quality care during any kind of disaster.

This post was written by James Romagnoli, vice president of corporate security and emergency management at the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

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