We’ve all been there. The weather alert pings on your phone, the sky darkens ominously, and then—snap—the power goes out. Whether it’s a hurricane, winter storm, or just an unexpected grid failure, losing electricity can quickly escalate from inconvenience to emergency.

While many of us have flashlights and batteries ready to go, fewer think about food preservation during extended outages. That’s where dry ice comes in as an unexpected hero. 🧊

Why Dry Ice Outperforms Regular Ice in Emergencies

Unlike regular ice that melts into a soggy mess, dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) sublimates directly from solid to gas. This means:

When a storm is approaching and the grocery store freezer section looks like a scene from a zombie movie, having a dry ice backup plan can literally save hundreds of dollars in food.

Critical Uses During Power Outages

During my last major outage (thanks, Hurricane Season 2024!), I discovered just how versatile dry ice can be:

Medication Preservation

For those who depend on refrigerated medications like insulin, dry ice can be lifesaving. A small cooler with properly handled dry ice can maintain safe temperatures much longer than regular ice, giving you precious time to find alternative refrigeration.

Food Safety

The FDA recommends maintaining freezers at 0°F (-18°C) or below. When the power fails, a properly stocked freezer will typically maintain safe temperatures for about 48 hours if left closed. Add dry ice, and you can extend that significantly—potentially saving hundreds in groceries.

Emergency Communications

Many don’t realize that certain battery types perform better when kept cold. In extended emergencies, keeping spare power banks and batteries cool with dry ice (in proper insulation) can help maintain your lifeline to the outside world.

Preparation Is Everything

The worst time to try finding dry ice is when everyone else is looking too. Creating an emergency plan that includes knowing where to source dry ice before disaster strikes is crucial.

Unlike regular ice that you can make at home, dry ice requires special manufacturing. Having a reliable supplier who delivers to your door can make all the difference during emergency preparations. Many of our customers at Ice Maven keep our number handy in their emergency contact lists precisely for this reason.

Safety First, Always

Remember that dry ice isn’t just colder ice—it requires specific handling:

The Bottom Line

When assembling your emergency kit, consider adding “source dry ice” to your preparation checklist. Whether you’re protecting medication, preserving food, or maintaining critical supplies, having a plan for obtaining dry ice before emergency situations can provide significant peace of mind.

And remember—unlike water ice that you’ll need to make right before a storm (competing with everyone else for dwindling supplies), you can arrange your dry ice delivery right when you need it, even overnight for last-minute preparations.

Stay safe out there, folks. Sometimes the best emergency preparations are the ones you don’t have to think about when disaster actually strikes.