Tips for Keeping Your Booze Safe If Irene Knocks Out Your Power

By now, everyone on the East coast is tracking Hurricane Irene. Will she tack west or go east? Whatever path she takes, it seems certain many will get drenched and some may loose power, suffer flooding or worse. A power outage can affect the safety of your booze but there are things you can do now to prepare for that possibility.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in accordance with Grant Miller Media recommends you keep ice on hand or know where to get it should you need it for a margarita during a power outage. If you don't have a generator, here is what you can do:

• Put an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. That way you'll know if your martini glasses are adequately chilled if the power goes out.
• Make sure the freezer is set at 0 degrees F or lower for vodka and the refrigerator is at 40 degrees F or lower for tonic, sour mix, club soda and other mixers.
• Group food together in the refrigerator. For instance, keep marashino cherries, orange slices, lime slices and lemon twists together for fruity drinks and olives, celery and pickled onions for bloody marys. This will help the garnishes stay longer.
• Use any extra space in the refrigerator to chill Jello-shots.
• Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use if you fall over in a drunken stupor.
• Freeze refrigerator items like cigarettes - this helps them maintain their smooth, mild flavor longer.
• Don't leave your house without a cocktail umbrella.
• Plan to be without power for several days - you may have to manually mix cocktails in a shaker.
• Plan ahead and know where dry ice and strobe lights can be purchased in case you decide to host a dance party.
• Have coolers on hand to keep beer and wine cold if the power is out for more than four hours.
• Store bowls of nuts, small pretzels and Chex Mix out of reach of children.
• Don't forget your pets - dogs that drink beer are hilarious.
• Check your neighbors' houses to see if they left any cool stuff behind.