Severe tropical storms and hurricanes usually mean power outages along with the obligatory wind and water damage. At such times, using insulated coolers can make the difference between prolonged periods of misery and being able to wait out the time with reasonable comforts including cold beverages, edible perishables, and safe medical supplies that would otherwise go to waste through spoilage. The choice between quality coolers that can get the job done is between standard hard-shell varieties and coolers built with expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. Here are six reasons why the foam cooler is a better option than hard plastic or metal ones when the weather starts to turn sour.

They are much more affordable than hard shell coolers

Hard shell cooler brands required to match the performance of a superior thick-walled foam cooler of comparable size and volume can be very expensive, putting a serious dent in your wallet and priced so high that many people who see Badly affected by the storm season you can’t afford to have one that is reliable enough to keep everything cold for long periods of time. As a result, people in need end up with cheaper knockoffs that don’t work right, putting them at risk of premature meltdowns, spoiled food or even ruined medicine while waiting for help to arrive from outside storm-damaged regions.

A plastic or metal cooler that is comparable in size and volume to, say, an 85-quart foam cooler will cost between two hundred and over four hundred dollars, while the foam version can be had for around fifteen dollars extremely. affordable. dollars or so. That means that for the amount of money needed to buy the hard top cooler, one can buy a whole stack of foam coolers.

From a community benefit point of view, this is much more practical, as one person can have a surplus on hand to store enough goods for days and still be able to help others in need who are not as well prepared or who can take damage that puts them in bad shape.

They can keep ice cold for days instead of hours

Anyone who has stood in line for hours in the summer sun after a major hurricane just to get a couple of bags of ice knows the importance of immediately placing it in an insulated container to prevent it from thawing. One of the drawbacks of hard shell coolers is that they have to be “pre-chilled” to prevent the ice from starting to melt immediately due to the heated interior surface temperature of the hard inner liner. In an emergency situation where ice is very scarce, a person cannot afford to waste it trying to cool something that is supposed to keep the ice from melting.

Effective in preventing premature food spoilage

Perishable foods last much longer in quality, thick-walled foam coolers than cheap, thin-walled foam coolers, and equal to or better than hard-shell coolers of comparable size and volume, especially when weighing the price difference between to them. Food shippers use foam shipping coolers (ice box thickness) to ship perishable goods and temperature-sensitive foods across the country because they are tested and reliable.

Handy for storing medical supplies

Thick-walled foam coolers are tested and qualified for cross-country shipping of temperature-sensitive medical supplies in combination with suitable refrigerants, such as gel packs that can be pre-frozen and used to maintain the proper temperature range. In post-hurricane situations when the power goes out, ice can be used with care if there are no gel packs or gel blocks or if there is no generator to run the freezers that can cool them down. Check with the appropriate resources ahead of time to find out how long you can store specific types of medication and what configuration of coolers, gel packs, etc. should use to maximize efficient day-to-day storage of vital medical supplies.

Reusable and Recyclable

The best quality thick-walled foam coolers are designed to last and have on hand for years, but if you decide to throw one away, you’ll benefit from its recyclability, whereas a broken hard-shell cooler takes up as much or more volume. space like a foam cooler but it is not recyclable. There are over 200 recycling resources for eps foam in the United States alone, allowing you to drop-off or mail-in service. If you prefer to keep it for years, simply store it in a shady spot protected from the weather and it will be ready to use the next time a tropical storm or hurricane strikes.

Can serve as emergency flotation devices

As a last resort in what one hopes will be a rare event, foam coolers can be used to save your life should you become trapped in a deep-sea storm surge or flood. The expanded polystyrene content is very buoyant, capable of helping to prevent a person from drowning if it can be supported effectively. Of course, you don’t want the cooler to be full of food right now because that would add a lot of extra weight. In any case, the point is that they float well and can be useful if the person is not wearing a life jacket.

Why they are a better choice for hurricane preparedness

For the price of a single high-quality hard shell cooler, you can buy numerous thick-walled foam coolers that work just as well, last for years, and have advantages that metal or hard plastic don’t. You’ll be able to store more for emergencies because you’ll have more units available, as well as position yourself to help those who find themselves caught in a bind due to unforeseen circumstances. This is one of the rare moments in life when what seems like a bargain is actually a bargain that can’t be beat.