The Not-So-Calm Before The Storm

As area residents prepare for the impending arrival of Hurricane Irene, shoppers packed local grocery and drug stores to buy items like bottled water, flashlights and batteries.

Bethesda resident Patricia Pennington stopped by the Arlington Road Giant – where shoppers vied for parking spots in the cramped lot – to pick up cat food and batteries for her flashlights.

Leaving the grocery store, she reported her cat will be well fed throughout the storm, but there was nary a D battery to be found. “I asked the store manager, and he said they were out,” Pennington said.

At the Wisconsin Avenue CVS, employees reported they had been sold out of flashlights since noon, and the battery shelf looked sparse as well.

In Gaithersburg, the Kentlands Giant was packed with shoppers at 4p.m. on Friday afternoon. There was no more bottled water but the store managers had put up signs saying that there would be another delivery of water by Friday evening.

Other items that seemed to be flying off the shelves were tuna fish, peanut butter, bottled drinks (such as teas and juices), and bread. Another, unexpected item that seemed highly popular was rotisserie chicken.

"I've sold 175 chickens!" exclaimed the deli manager.

Residents say they are preparing for possible extended power outages. Back at the Arlington Road Giant, Pennington said Pepco hasn’t had a particularly good track record of keeping the lights on during storm events in her East Bethesda neighborhood.  However, she said the utility seems to be communicating more with customers – she said she received an automated call from Pepco warning of potential outages. “I did appreciate the call, to tell people, “We’re doing our best, and y’all need to be prepared too,” Pennington said.

Another East Bethesda resident, Lou Olin, stopped by the Giant around 4p.m. to pick up canned items and bananas. “People do panic,” she said. “I feel sorry for the people who are still at work and have to get all of this accomplished in a few hours.”

Patch will be bringing you Hurricane Irene coverage throughout the weekend. For stories and information from Patches across Maryland, visit our Hurricane Irene Facebook page.