This is to inform those who aren’t aware what occurs when their frost free refrigerator defrosts after a lengthy power outage. We lived through the 3 hurricanes which hit Central Florida in 2004. (almost 4, but Ivan decided to turn north into the FL panhandle)

Frost free refrigerators do defrost, but are designed to “dry” the minimal amount of water released from the defrost cycle into a pan. That’s a good thing. But, now for the bad, and I mean bad thing. Since power has been lost, the refrigerator cannot “dry” the water. The result is a continuous defrost and an overflow of water from the pan. I learned this the hard way. We had recently installed a faux wood kitchen floor prior to the storms. By the time I noticed water seeping out from under the refrigerator the damage was done! The water had leached under the flooring resulting in swelled, lifted planks. After power was restored (love those power company linemen or line-women!) we did our best to dry the flooring with fans, but after it dried damage remained so I put down a throw rug to cover the damage.

I prepared for the next 2 storms by stuffing old towels, blankets, etc. under and around the refrigerator...removing them as they became soaked. So...be prepared. I now live directly on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where Katrina gave this site a 32 foot storm surge! The gulf is across the street, US 90. I am keeping a watchful eye on Dorian just in case she crosses Florida into the very warm Gulf.