DATE: Sunday, August 3, 1997                TAG: 9707310077

SECTION: FLAVOR                  PAGE: F2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT 

                                            LENGTH:   41 lines

HURRICANE SEASON IS TIME TO STOCK PANTRY

HURRICANE season is here, and that means it's time to lay in emergency provisions. And while winds, rain and floods pose the greatest threat to life and property, a big storm may curtail everyday activities to a point beyond mere inconvenience.

For instance, the city of Virginia Beach public works department expects there to be 16 million cubic yards of debris in the streets after a category four storm. Mount Trashmore is made up of 1 million cubic yards of waste, says Tim Burkheimer, project manager for the City of Virginia Beach Hurricane Response Team.

Since it may take days to clear roadways after a storm, disaster preparedness experts suggest you have a week's worth of food and beverages on hand in case a storm knocks out electricity and contaminates tap water.

Home economist Anne Cooper, a veteran of Hurricane Andrew's 1992 assault on South Florida, recommends keeping hurricane supplies boxed and separate from regular pantry goods. It's one less thing to worry about if you need to secure your home against an approaching storm, and it simplifies packing if you need to evacuate.

Cooper suggests using goods from last year's hurricane ``kit'' if you haven't already and purchasing fresh supplies. That way you won't have any doubts about shelf life.

Before you shop, here are some points to consider:

Family size: Buy meal- or individual-size portions to minimize waste.

Family preferences: There's no sense buying things nobody will eat.

Cooking facilities: A gas stove or grill can be a godsend during a power outage; if you don't have one, you might want to invest in a small camp stove. MEMO: Kathy Martin of Knight-Ridder News Service contributed to this

report. For more tips on preparing for a storm, watch Pilot-13 News

starting at 8 today (Cox Cable channel 4; channel 8 in Chesapeake). ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

STORM PANTRY

[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]

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