Local Stores' Shelves Emptying of Necessities

With Hurricane Irene predicted to hit Connecticut on Sunday, area residents are remaining calm, but are also emptying local stores’ shelves of the necessities in the event of an emergency, such as a large power outage.

Bryan Doktor, the manager of Geissler’s Supermarket in Granby, said that the store’s supply of water was running out. Customers even called early this morning to see what time the store opened.

“Get in here before it goes,” Doktor said. “Our warehouse is out of water.”

Batteries and bread were also popular items that the store was having trouble keeping in stock.

Doktor said that, in his 30 years in the grocery business, he’s never seen anything like the response to a potential emergency, with only 1985’s Hurricane Gloria approaching the high volume of customer traffic.

Kelly McAllister, a Simsbury resident who was seen shopping this morning at Geissler’s, said that she wasn’t panicking, but was going to be prepared for the worst.

“I’m just going with this,” she said while standing over a cart stocked with paper towels, water, milk and creamer. “You know, the essentials.

“I try not to be too concerned. I just running with it. If I’m stressed out, it doesn’t help anyone.”

At the Stop & Shop in Granby, Simsbury resident Cathy Clifton was spotted early this morning with a stacked shopping cart filled with produce, water, ice, bread, peanut butter, and food items that can be opened with a manual can opener.

If nothing else, Clifton was abiding by Granby Town Manager Bill Smith’s advice to remain calm.

“I’m not panicking, but I want to be prepared for a power outage,” she said.

Simsbury resident Tracey Keenan, who was waiting in line at the Stop & Shop deli with a cart filled with water, bread, apples and other items that don’t need too much refrigeration, said that she, too, was less worried about the storm itself and more concerned if the power went out for any extended period of time.

“I have three children at home,” she said.

Charles George, the manager of Family Hardware in Granby, said that his store was stripped of certain types of batteries, sterno, propane, lamp oil, all oil lamps, flashlights and all four generators that he had in stock.

“I’ve got someone driving to New York to get more [things to stock the shelves],” he said.

George estimated that he had sold 200 flashlights and 100 cases of water in the last two days. George advised people to “take everything that you can inside, make sure you have plenty of food, something to cook with and something to see with.

“And don’t freak out.”

Residents with wells should fill their bathtubs with water that can be used to pour into toilets to flush them, George said.

North Granby resident Emily Shaw, a customer at Family Hardware, seemed to be well-prepared, only picking up a few last-minute supplies, such as duct tape and rope to tie down a tarp over her car.

Noting that she already had a generator, Shaw said that she planned on kicking up her heels and “watching football” on Sunday.

“If you live in New England, you have to expect change every day,” she said.