The Alabama Department of Public Health recommends all families in areas that may be affected by Hurricane Isaac take health and safety precautions.

State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson urges Alabamians to listen and follow warnings communicated through the news media.

Food Safety
Power outages prompt concerns about the safety of frozen and refrigerated foods. As a general rule, a full upright or chest freezer will keep foods frozen for about two days without power.

A partially full freezer will keep foods frozen for about one day. This time may be extended by keeping the door shut. A refrigerator will keep foods cool for four to six hours if the door is kept closed as much as possible.

Any thawed foods that have been at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded. Foods still containing ice crystals can be refrozen, although the quality of the food may decrease.

The risk for injuries associated with generators and chain saws increases after natural disasters such as hurricanes. If misused, both of these products can lead to injuries and even deaths, the Alabama Department of Public Health cautions.

Power outages that follow storms prompt people to use generators which produce carbon monoxide. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms and ultimately lead to coma and death. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, toxic gas that is produced by all fossil fuel burning appliances and automobiles. Exposure to carbon monoxide is responsible for more fatal unintentional poisonings in the United States than any other agent.

Follow these recommendations for the safe use of generators:

• Have a carbon monoxide monitor with fresh batteries in it and place it in the residence high on the wall.

Governor Robert Bentley on Friday encouraged all Alabamians to be prepared for the possibility of a hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast next week.

Latest forecast models show Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.  The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall somewhere along the central Gulf Coast late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

“Now is the time for you and your family to make sure you have the proper supplies and plans in place,” Governor Bentley said.  “Inland areas of the state could also be affected.  We are keeping a watchful eye on Tropical Storm Isaac, and we encourage everyone to monitor changing weather conditions over the next several days.”

Just Thursday, Governor Bentley announced the launch of the renewed Ready Alabama initiative to help people prepare ahead of natural disasters.  The Ready Alabama website,