The Alabama Department of Public Health recommends all families in areas that may be affected by Hurricane Isaac take health and safety precautions.

State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson urges Alabamians to listen and follow warnings communicated through the news media.

Food Safety
Power outages prompt concerns about the safety of frozen and refrigerated foods. As a general rule, a full upright or chest freezer will keep foods frozen for about two days without power.

A partially full freezer will keep foods frozen for about one day. This time may be extended by keeping the door shut. A refrigerator will keep foods cool for four to six hours if the door is kept closed as much as possible.

Any thawed foods that have been at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded. Foods still containing ice crystals can be refrozen, although the quality of the food may decrease.

Governor Robert Bentley on Friday encouraged all Alabamians to be prepared for the possibility of a hurricane making landfall along the Gulf Coast next week.

Latest forecast models show Tropical Storm Isaac is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico in the coming days.  The storm is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before making landfall somewhere along the central Gulf Coast late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

“Now is the time for you and your family to make sure you have the proper supplies and plans in place,” Governor Bentley said.  “Inland areas of the state could also be affected.  We are keeping a watchful eye on Tropical Storm Isaac, and we encourage everyone to monitor changing weather conditions over the next several days.”

Just Thursday, Governor Bentley announced the launch of the renewed Ready Alabama initiative to help people prepare ahead of natural disasters.  The Ready Alabama website,

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley and Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan announced Friday that farmers in nearly half of Alabama’s counties will be eligible for low-interest federal loans as a result of a drought emergency declaration by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack.

“While much of the state has received rain this week, it is not enough to eliminate the severe and extreme drought conditions that many places are experiencing,” Governor Bentley said.  “Farmers across Alabama are suffering through what has been an extended drought from last year.  We appreciate Secretary Vilsack's response to this critical situation that affects so many Alabama families.”

In a July 12 letter to Governor Bentley, Secretary Vilsack designated the following 33 counties as “primary natural disaster areas” suffering from severe or extreme drought: