Byline: THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Q: A lot of people are curious, as they're throwing away stuff from their refrigerators, about things such as salad dressings, sauces, condiments, jams, jellies, etc.
Can we keep those, or do we need to throw them out? What refrigerated items can we keep?
Edna
Norfolk
A: Forget what your mother told you about mayonnaise.
The rule is: If it wasn't refrigerated when you bought it, it should be fine. That applies even if it's been opened and refrigerated, and if it says to refrigerate after opening. The notable exception: canned goods, which are vacuum-packed.
``We've always been told mayo is one of the first things to go bad,'' said Carol Smith, who supervises the Norfolk Health Department's environmental health division. But the mayonnaise you buy at the grocery store isn't made with eggs anymore; it's been adjusted with vinegar or citric acid, creating an environment bacteria doesn't like.
You can also keep other condiments, like ketchup, mustard and relish. Also, your salad dressing should be fine - again, if it was not refrigerated.
Check the label - if the product was purchased in a refrigerated section of the store and the label says it must be refrigerated, then it should probably be thrown away if has not been kept cold.
- Elizabeth Simpson
, Q: A tree came down in my mother's yard, and brought down many power lines with it. There are power lines all over, as close to 15 feet from our front door.
My concern is, these lines could become live again. One side is still hooked up to a transformer.
I've put in numerous phone calls to Dominion Virginia Power, but no one calls back.
I know everyone is without power now. But this isn't a power issue; it's a safety issue.
Jennifer Hanbury Pobiak
Chesapeake
A: With 436,000 Dominion Virginia Power customers still without power, there are no shortcuts, nor satisfying answers.
Dominion spokesman Chuck Penn says there are numerous downed wires like yours throughout the area. If you've reported the problem, he says, they are aware of it. Penn says the only thing to do is to stay clear of the wires until someone can get to them.
To report a downed wire, call Dominion Virginia Power at 1-888-667-3000, where you can reach an actual person without great pain. After dialing the number, follow the prompts - press one for ``touch tone phone,'' then one for ``power outage.'' Then, in your case, press three, to report damaged power lines or generally dangerous situations.
- John Warren
Q: What storm-related things can people write off on their income taxes?
M.K.
Norfolk
A: ``Basically, everything.'' So says Diane Wishart, managing partner for McMahon Accountants in Norfolk.
Included items are anything not covered by an insurance payment. You can deduct property damage, food, garden utensils and even clothing.
``Keeping inventory of goods thrown out or damaged properties is essential,'' Wishart said. ``Just because you may not have sustained substantial damage does not mean you're out of the IRS deduction loop.''
Go to the Internal Revenue Service Web site - irs.gov - to get Form 584, a ``casualty, disaster and theft loss'' workbook. Fill out the workbook, and give it to a tax professional when it's time to file. Business owners, look for Form 547.
You can claim the deductions for the 2003 tax year, or retroactively for 2002.
For more information online, go to irs.gov/newsroom, where there's information specific to Hurricane Isabel victims. Another useful online resource is wwwebtax.com
- John Warren
Q: I have been without a phone since Sept. 18, even though I got electricity back on Sunday.
When I called the phone company, Verizon, the customer service representative acted as if my outage was an isolated case. She didn't even want to hear there was a phone cable knocked down by a tree one street over from my house and none of my neighbors' phones work either.
Larry Ahlgrim
Norfolk
A: Verizon, the region's largest telephone provider, reported about 8,000 trouble calls from consumers as of late Tuesday. That compares with an average of 700 at any given time.
But officials admitted the figure is fluid, and that they could not say precisely how many lines may be down. Many residents who fled the area ahead of Isabel, for instance, have not yet called for assistance. Some who stayed probably assumed their neighborhoods have already been reported.
And though Verizon has 800,000 to 900,000 phone lines in the 757 area code, some customers, such as businesses, have numerous lines.
Miller would not estimate how long it might take to get customers' phone service back.
- Michael Davis
Q: We live in Norfolk, and have been without power since the storm hit. My husband and I were out of work because of the storm, and lost $300 in food. We're running out of food, and we won't be getting paychecks.
We make too much ($40,000 combined) to qualify for food stamps, and FEMA considers we are not destitute enough for relief. Aside from the hot meals being offered by the Red Cross, is there some way we can get assistance? D.W.
Norfolk
A: One option is to call the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia's main number at 627-6599, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
If you give the food distribution agency your Zip code, the Foodbank can tell you which of its 352 partner agencies is nearest you. Foodbank supplies food to a variety of agencies and faith-based groups that donate food to people in need.
Also, many foodbanks have suspended income qualifications during the hurricane.
Clark Mandigo, director of operations and programs for the foodbank, also suggested contacting the United Way of South Hampton Roads, 853-8500, or your city social service department.
Starting today, Norfolk is offering disaster relief food stamps to some families who do not normally qualify for assistance. Eligibility is based on income and family size. To see if you qualify, call 664-3300.- Elizabeth Simpson/Veronica Butts
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