Home > Family & Home > Hazards and Threats > Power Outage > Power Outage Starts Countdown For Frozen Foods If you are without power because of Hurricane Katrina, the food in your freezer has a limited lifespan as short as 24 hours. Food can remain frozen longer, up to 48 hours, but that duration depends on specific conditions. Keep Food Safe The loss of power from hurricane winds, fire or flood could endanger the safety of your food within as little as four hours. Exercise Caution When Using Generators For Emergency Power Emergency generators are popular items in the aftermath of a hurricane or tropical storm that strikes southern Louisiana, but safety when using them is a major consideration. Removing Odors from Refrigerators and Freezers after a Power Outage Steps to rid your refrigerator and freezer of noxious odors after a power outage.  more articles... How to Cook Without Power After a disaster has knocked out electricity or gas lines, cooking meals can be a problem. Cooking can be hazardous if a few basic rules are not followed. Using Generators for Emergency Power Emergency generators are popular after disasters. They can help save food in freezers and refrigerators, but they can be dangerous if not used properly. Play It Safe With Food After a Power Outage Electrical power may be disrupted for hours, sometimes days. Among the first things affected by the loss of electricity is the food in refrigerators and freezers. There are certain precautions you should take before you begin using food from refrigerators and freezers that have been off for more than a few hours. In fact, there are some things you can do before the power goes out.