Lexington, Ky. is experiencing ongoing power outages as residents recover from recent storms. Many households are grappling with the loss of refrigerated perishable foods, a situation that emphasizes the need for emergency preparedness.
As power restoration efforts continue, the USDA warns that unrefrigerated food items can become unsafe after just four hours without power. Kevin Hall, a spokesperson for the Fayette County Health Department, advises residents: “When in doubt, throw it out.” He emphasizes that consuming spoiled foods can pose serious health risks.
In response to the food crisis, local non-profit organization Black Soil KY is stepping in to assist those affected. Located just off Lane Allen Road, the organization is distributing free locally-grown produce, focusing on Black and Indigenous farmers. According to Amber Fuller, Director of Marketing and Special Projects at Black Soil KY, “We know that there are so many people that have been affected by this.” The distribution is limited to one batch of produce per household and will continue daily from 10 AM to 4 PM until Wednesday, though supplies are depleting rapidly.
Kentucky Utilities also advises residents to develop an emergency preparedness plan, as the duration of outages can vary significantly. Drew Gardner from Kentucky Utilities states, “It’s hard to gauge when it is going to be a short term or long term outage. But it’s always important to have a plan for each scenario.” Customers are encouraged to monitor the utility’s power outage map for updates, and report any lingering outages even if their area appears marked as restored.
As the community rallies to support those in need, the availability of fresh produce could help mitigate the impact of lost food due to the power outages. The situation highlights the importance of quick action and preparedness in the face of unexpected natural events.
