As high winds sweep across Colorado, some areas are facing power outages that could last several hours or longer. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is urging residents to take steps to keep food safe during these disruptions.
“When outages happen, people are already dealing with enough. These simple food safety steps are meant to help reduce one more risk, so no one has to deal with a preventable illness on top of everything else,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, deputy chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Officials emphasize that without electricity, refrigerators and freezers can warm quickly, creating conditions where bacteria may grow. To minimize risks, CDPHE recommends keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. According to their guidance, an unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours, while a full freezer maintains its temperature for approximately 48 hours—24 hours if only half full. If an outage is expected to last beyond four hours, using coolers with ice is advised.
Perishable foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, cooked leftovers, and cut fruits or vegetables should be kept at 40°F or below. If power has been out for four hours or more and perishable items were not kept cold with ice or in a cooler, those foods should be discarded—even if they appear normal—as harmful bacteria may not be visible.
The department also reminds communities that high winds can create hazardous conditions beyond just outages. Residents are encouraged to follow local guidance and check on neighbors who might need additional support during extended outages. CDPHE continues working closely with emergency management teams and utility companies to monitor the situation and provide timely updates.
For further details on how to protect food during emergencies like power outages, the public can consult the CDC’s Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html.
