Food Safety Emergency Preparedness

Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe in an emergency will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses. Use the documents and links below to find out how to keep food safe before, during, and after floods, fires, natural disasters, power loss and other emergencies.

The person-in-charge at a food facility must report emergency occurrences to the Allegheny County Health Department Food Safety Program. Emergency occurrences include fire, flood, sewage back-up, loss of power for 2 or more hours, lack of running water, alleged foodborne illness outbreaks, an ill food worker with vomiting, diarrhea, or a reportable diagnosis, or similar event that may result in the contamination of food.

To self-report an emergency occurrence, use your Allegheny County Support Center account, or call the Food Safety Program at 412-578-8044.

ACHD Guidance

• Safe Food Operations during Temporary Interruptions in Water Service(PDF, 130KB)
• Food Safety Tips for Power Outages(PDF, 617KB)
• Boil Water Advisory Alternative Procedures and Recovery(PDF, 270KB)
• Start-up Procedures for after a Boil Water Advisory(PDF, 175KB)
• Safe Handling of Food and Utensils After a Flood - Guidelines for Industry and Consumers(PDF, 227KB)

FoodSafety.gov

• Food Safety During Power Outage

FDA Guidance

• Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods
• Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables
• Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Education Resource Library
• Guidelines for Retail and Food Service Establishments Affected by Natural or Other Disasters(PDF, 60KB)