topic Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms? in Community Chat

Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Shorty2U — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:21:31 GMT

I never understood this (I don't work now, but having worked at a supermarket in management for years) and neither does my family understand, so maybe you can shed some light.

Here in PA the grocery stores are wiped out of milk, eggs, bread and all kinds of things for the impending storm. Bread I can understand, but why do people buy "perishable" food before a snow storm?

IF your power goes out you're not cooking without power! (Unless you have a camping stove or grill, but then you have to go outside to use your grill in the storm).

We always have a lot of food on hand (perishable and non perishable), as we shop every Monday or Tuesday year round. But if we didn't, I would focus more on getting non perishable food before a storm.

And I doubt all the crowds that run to the store have generators so well I just don't get it! (We always used to joke at work, that everyone must sit and eat all day and night long while they're snowed in the way they buy everything in sight! lol).

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

sunshine45 — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:26:52 GMT

we have a gas cooktop, so yes, we can cook on top of the stove if the electricity goes out.....and of course, you never know when the electricity will go out. i may be trapped inside the house but i wont starve. LOL

i did buy a lot of lunch meats today also.....so the extra bread i bought will come in handy.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Mz iMac — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:39:48 GMT

It's like why do people "cook" during blizzard conditions???? Power goes out what are you going to do???

I have a large freezer plus the food saver. I am well stocked in bread & lunch meat.

Power goes out, my well stocked freezer will last another 2 weeks. Has a backup built-in generater.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Ane1Care — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:42:01 GMT

I've wondered this too. When the blizzard of 93 hit our power went out, but luckily we had a covered porch that got wind blown snow in / on it that allowed us to move the cold foods to. The frozen stuff went in deeper, the fridge stuff sat basically naked...the wind chill was in the negatives. Honestly I don't remember what we ate, but I think we grilled on the porch, not really grilling, but using it as a stove top.

Here, in upper west SC, one flake can fall or better yet, a prediction of one flake, and everyone rushes to the store for bread and milk. People who normally don't eat bread or milk buy it. Just last night people had heaping carts, "They said it may snow." is the common response. I stock up on canned soups, if I get anything during the grocery store craziness.

It just proves that folks, today especially, aren't prepared for an emergency. They panic. It should be a mandatory class in HS to learn how to make a fully stocked pantry with first aid, and necessary supplies to last at least a few weeks, and how to make a bug out bag encase you have to get out quick. Plus, drivers ed should really instill in kids the importance of a car kit--food, water, first aid, blankets, toilet paper, emergency signals, etc. It seems that knowledge is only for the "crazy bomb shelter" people. But, those are the first people to be called on in an emergency.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

ballyk — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:49:49 GMT

My husband and I discuss this every time there's a big storm predicted. Where we live getting a foot of snow is not unusual and I've never run to the store for supplies, in fact haven't left the house in a week and we're eating just fine. Also never understood living on eggs cooked in butter with toast and drinking milk.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

adoreqvc — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 07:13:07 GMT

Loading up before a storm is senseless if you are loading up on foods which need refrigeration, and you do not have a generator which supports your household needs, so you can switch it on, if the power fails.

Pray everyone stays safe with the upcoming storm approaching this weekend, in the North East and elsewhere too.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

VanSleepy — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 07:39:06 GMT

I figure people buy milk, bread, and eggs in case they can't get out of the house for a few days. Lots of French toast I guess lol. All I want to be sure of is enough gas for the snow blower!

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

surfk — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 21:06:41 GMT

Well, I don't think that anyone but an idiot runs out to buy perishable foods before a storm thinking "power outage".

While power outages can be quite common especially in certain areas, it not always a guarantee in every storm - even a bad one.

So I would tend to think those who stock up on basic perishables like milk and frozen foods are working from the perspective: "What if the storm lasts for days or weeks...but the power stays on????"

They're taking the gamble (as all life is a gamble) that the power won't necessarily go out but the roads will be impassable and stores closed.

It all sort of comes down to the whole "Is the glass half empty or half full?" when facing any impending "storm" that life can throw at people.

In this instance, half the people take the risk that they'll lose all that food if the power goes out while the other half of the people risk not having such foods on hand for days or weeks should the power remain on.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

BlingQueen022 — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 07:57:49 GMT

Not everybody's house is all electric. A Giant food store in the dc area sold out of every pack of chicken they had because of this storm, lol. Apparently, somebody in the dc area has a gas stove top.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Kachina624 — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 08:00:02 GMT

I tease my Pennsylvania sister about the bread and milk thing. I figure sometime in the spring, everyone must make a huge bread pudding.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Silver Lining — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 08:18:55 GMT

@BlingQueen022 wrote:
Not everybody's house is all electric. A Giant food store in the dc area sold out of every pack of chicken they had because of this storm, lol. Apparently, somebody in the dc area has a gas stove top.

..........or a BBQ grill outside or a built-in gas grill. My indoor cooktop is electric but I can always fire-up my huge outdoor covered gas grill if the power goes out.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Nataliesgramma — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 10:45:07 GMT

This morning on ABC, the interviewed a guy who was stocking up on beer and wine......

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

PamelaSue72 — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:07:06 GMT

We make a grocery run on Monday nights, usually for pet supplies (cat food and litter). I hardly ever deviate from that. We keep two well-stocked freezers in the basement (from our garden) and the fridge is always full. We also have a full pantry in the kitchen and one in the basement. We're not going to starve.

And we have a generator for the freezers and the fridge if the power were to go off.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Pook — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 11:16:55 GMT

My gas stove can be manually lit and used if the power goes out and perishables can be put outside in the snow in coolers which will keep it. Although I always have enough food to get me through several months if I can't get out. The same with toilet paper. Why would anyone not have more than a few rolls at all times? had to laugh silently as several were talking about buying a lot of bread, jelly and butter saying if the power went out they could at least have toast and jelly. Unless they hold the bread over a candle how will they make toast?!!

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Marp — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:38:28 GMT

The best answer I can come up with is a full refrigerator stays cold longer although I prefer bottles of water for both the refrigerator and freezer. Also, a lot of people probably figure that if the power goes out they can just transfer the food to a cooler and put it outside to keep it cold.

Stocking up on fresh food in anticipation of a snowstorm make more sense than stocking up on fresh food for a hurricane.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Financialgrl — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:44:35 GMT

Used to wonder myself. But I'm rural so we lose power for 7-10 days sometimes. I used to always have a Plan B - keep a few coolers you can pack with snow and keep on the back porch in the cold. I have a transfer switch and my whole house will operate okay but the generator this time is running rough so I'm closing up the house and going to my sister's place. Two feet of snow is not something I want to tackle alone. They are on well but it's a county sponsored maintained well and has a generator backup - they are never without water. They have a woodstove that heats the whole house. SHe has a humongous screened in porch. Her husband moves two gas grills they have into the far end of the screened in porch and we can cook food or warm it up that way. The top of the woodstove gets so hot it will warm food but not cook it.

I've made two huge containers of soup - it's enough to keep us fed for 2 or 3 days but I don't think we'll want to eat that for that many days straight. She has chili frozen - If you plan it right, you can make due.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

Sylanne — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:49:38 GMT

@VanSleepy wrote:
I figure people buy milk, bread, and eggs in case they can't get out of the house for a few days. Lots of French toast I guess lol. All I want to be sure of is enough gas for the snow blower!

Yep & enough gas for the generator.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

jackthebear — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 12:54:02 GMT

here in the TRi-state area it is pre-storm frenzy, and I live in a densly populated area, no one is going to be stuck in the house for more than 1 day. It is good to have advance notice of the weather but this gets just crazy.

If there is a power outage all the food maybe spoiled anyway, after Sandy I decided no more freezer stocking for that reason.

Then we got a standby generator.

Re: Why do people load up on perishable food before storms?

haddon9 — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 13:08:11 GMT

We have a gas stove and can still use it when the power goes out. As for the fridge if it's cold enough we can keep a lot of items cold in the garage.

I have to remember to charge up my kindle later today just in case...it will last almost a week on a charge.

ETA...as for "bread & milk" I don't buy it. I've been cutting back on grains and don't eat as much bread. I don't like milk and don't keep it in the house since it's just me & DH. We do have a lot of veggies, fruit, quinoa, rice, almond butter, tea and other items. We won't starve.

....

debic — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 13:26:17 GMT

@Marp wrote:
The best answer I can come up with is a full refrigerator stays cold longer although I prefer bottles of water for both the refrigerator and freezer. Also, a lot of people probably figure that if the power goes out they can just transfer the food to a cooler and put it outside to keep it cold.

Stocking up on fresh food in anticipation of a snowstorm make more sense than stocking up on fresh food for a hurricane.

Cooler outside or in an unheated garage will work.

Most people who are in areas where severe storms probably already have non perishable stuff. And not everyone is preparing for a power outage, they are preparing for an "you can't get there from here" situation. When you get dumped with that much snow all at once, a quick trip to the store is dangerous.

*ETA* And many of us have generators.