ORLANDO, Fla. -- An invention inspired by the power outages during the damaging 2004 hurricane season may help prevent foodborne illnesses after a hurricane.

With hurricane season in full swing, many people have prepared by purchasing things like water, batteries and plywood, but if the power goes out for long periods of time, a hidden danger may lurk in people's freezers.

Many people keep their freezers well stocked, but with the threat of lengthy power outages during hurricane season, it can be difficult to tell if the food in your freezer is still safe.

Local inventor Ralph Knight believes he has come up with an answer.

The Thaw-Mometer is the by-product of Knight's experiences in 2004 when a string of hurricanes hit Central Florida.

Knight's family evacuated their Brevard County home during one of their storms, and when they returned home, the power was back on and everything in the freezer was frozen solid and appeared safe, but had already gone bad without their knowledge.

The Thaw-Mometer is left in your freezer, and if for any reason your freezer thaws, a red indicator will appear to let you know the food is not safe to eat.

Knight said he hopes his invention will prevent hundreds of cases of foodborne illness that strike after a hurricane has passed.

It took Knight five years to get his invention to market, but it is now available online and at some local Ace Hardware stores for $4.99.

Target and Wal-Mart have both said they may begin stocking the Thaw-Mometer.