FEMA assistance available if you threw out spoiled food from Helene

As power comes on throughout the Coastal Empire, you may have to toss food that has been in your fridge if it power was out for more than 4 hours. That food may not be safe to consume. Now the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a grant of $10 million for storm survivors across the Southeast and up to $750 for your wasted groceries.

You can apply for FEMA assistance one of three ways:

• Visit disasterassistance.gov.
• Call 1-800-621-3362.
• Download and apply on the FEMA app.

"The biggest question: 'What do I need to do?'" said Lauren Baker Newton, environmental health manager with the Chatham County Health Department. "It's better to be safe and go ahead and discard those products."

According to health department guidelines, all refrigerated food with a "keep refrigerated" label should be thrown out if it was in a powerless fridge for more than four hours. As for the freezer, anything stored longer than 48 hours without power should be thrown out.

"Jugs of water, of water bottles and freezing those things ahead of time and situating them within your refrigerator and freezer can help extend the time," said Newton.

However, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

"The cost of throwing those things out is going to be much lower than potentially making yourself sick with a foodborne illness," said Newton. "That could equate to hospital visits, hospital bills and or doctor visits and just that time it will take for you to recover."

"The state of Georgia has been approved for a major disaster declaration that allows residents who have been affected by the storm to apply for assistance," said Michael Hart, a spokesperson for FEMA.

There are no minimum income requirements to apply for assistance. Furthermore, be sure to document as much as you can, not only for FEMA assistance, but for potential insurance claims.

"Any and all damage to their property, to their home, etc., and also they should be contacting their insurance company," said Hart. "If they have flood insurance, get that process working, and then contact FEMA immediately after that.”

If approved, the $750 voucher can be used to replace your lost groceries, buy personal hygiene items or necessities for your family.

It is recommended that as you toss that food you document what you throw away--taking pictures with your phone or camera may be required for you to get reimbursed for that loss of food.