Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> In article >, "jmcquown"
> > wrote:
>
> > The Joneses wrote:
> > > jmcquown wrote:
> > >
> > >> Just got a call from Damsel (Carol). She and Crash are at a
motel
> > >> for at least the next couple of days. The fusebox in the
basement
> > >> decided to do a melt-down in the middle of the night. If Crash
> > >> hadn't awakened... well let's just say the basement was thick
with
> > >> smoke but it hadn't made it upstairs yet nor was anything yet in
> > >> flames. They and their pets got out safely. The power company
has
> > >> shut off all power to their house until further inspection can
be
> > >> done; it appears they will have to have it rewired.
> > >> Jill
> > >
> > > Glad they're all okay. Hope the freezer & fridge keep the
groceries
> > > cold. Edrena
> >
> > Gawd! Didn't even think of that! I'm sure they haven't, either.
> >
> > Jill
>
> As long as neither are opened -- not even to check to see if things
are
> okay -- the stuff in the freezer should be fine, especially if the
> freezer's mostly full. I'm thinking the fridge stuff will be good
for
> at least a day. The key to the frozen is to NOT open the door. Or
> rent a generator.
> --
> -Barb

Just about every city in the US has a commercial ice house (check your
yellow pages and place the address and phone number on your fridge),
most will have "dry ice" or will know the nearest place to get some.
Dry ice is inexpensive and lasts a long time... a block each the size
of a shoebox, wrapped in a few layers of newspaper, will keep both
fridge and freezer compartment fine for about three days.