MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mary Hancock 385-0714, 404-7920 (cell)
Tim Riley, 385-0703, 377-0134 (cell)
Marc Davis, 385-0701, 406-2411 (cell)
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health strongly advises all Virginia Beach residents experiencing power outages to use extreme care when consuming refrigerated and frozen perishable foods. When foods, such as meats and dairy products, are held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees F. for more than a few hours, microorganisms may multiply, placing you and your family at risk for a food-borne illness.
Discard any potentially hazardous food that has exceeded 41 degrees F. for greater than two hours. Once frozen food has thawed, remaining at less than 41 degrees F., it must be cooked and eaten immediately. Discard leftovers if you cannot maintain the food at a safe temperature. Keep a food thermometer on hand to monitor these important temperatures.
Never use a gas or charcoal grill to cook indoors! This may release poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, causing illness or death.
You can use your fireplace, candle warmers, chafing dishes and fondue pots to heat food. Canned foods can be eaten directly from the can.
Emergency preparedness information is available at www.VBgov.com/beprepared. For up-to-date storm information, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CityofVaBeach and Twitter http://twitter.com/cityofvabeach (#VBSandy), or call VB311 Citizen Services by dialing 311 on landlines within the city limits, (757) 385-3111 by cell phone, or visit www.VBgov.com for online assistance.
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