With a little preparation, grocery stores can weather hurricane season without compromising operations or food safety.
By: Jessica Badour, Senior Project Manager, Food Safety Training, FMI 
June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season, and for food retailers, natural disasters don’t just test infrastructure and logistics. They also test preparedness, decision-making and the ability to protect public health while continuing to support communities.
The food industry faces significant challenges during severe weather events. Power outages threaten refrigerated and frozen products. Flooding may compromise facilities and equipment. Transportation and supply chain disruptions can affect the availability of essential goods and services. At the same time, employees may be balancing personal safety concerns with critical operational responsibilities.
Yet, in these moments, grocery stores serve as a vital community resource—providing access to food, supplies and reassurance when it is needed most. Even under challenging conditions, food safety cannot be compromised. Clear, timely decisions are critical to minimizing the food safety risk. There is no margin for error when product safety is at stake.
That’s where FMI comes in—supporting our members so they can continue doing what they do best: Serving their communities before, during and after the storm.
During a crisis, FMI works closely with federal, state, local and private-sector partners to support planning, response and recovery efforts. FMI provides operational and informational resources to help members navigate supply-chain disruptions, perishable food handling and inventory control, even as conditions are rapidly changing. These tools include:
- Store status reporting forms;
- Business-to-business solutions via the National Business Emergency Operations Center dashboard;
- Food assistance and disaster relief updates;
- Private sector liaison mapping; and
- Curfew and reentry guidance.
As the 2026 hurricane season begins, here are a few immediate steps you can take today to be ready all year:
- Refresh your internal plans using the resources on FMI’s Crisis Management webpage, including the Natural Disaster Guide.
- Review and update your Emergency Action Plan. The Conference for Food Protection (CFP) offers guidance specifically for retail food establishments, with updated recommendations for TCS foods during power outages.
- Engage with customers on food safety. Make sure they are equipped with the tools to keep food safe before, during and after emergencies.
Effective communication is essential during emergencies. In a crisis, information can move as fast as the storm itself. Regardless of whether major storms arise, FMI stands ready to serve as a central hub, connecting retailers, suppliers and government partners to ensure the timely exchange of critical information when coordination matters most.
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