Community Corner

Updated: Are Northern Virginia Residents Prepping for Hurricane Irene?

While some buy generators, others take a 'wait and see' attitude. How about you?

UPDATE, Thursday 7:20 p.m.: Area residents are beginning to stock up on supplies before the arrival of Hurricane Irene, just as the National Weather Service issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the entire metro region.

At about 6:45 p.m. Thursday, at the Safeway store at Crossroads Center in Falls Church off of Route 7, customers heaved large bottles of water into their grocery carts, leaving shelves practically empty. Other customers could be seen adding bottled water and other staples to their carts.

The 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center shows Hurricane Irene coming close enough to Northern Virginia to potentially cause tropical storm force wind gusts of 30-60 mph, with higher gusts closer to the shore. In light of that threat, NWS Baltimore/Washington issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the area.

Find out what's happening in Annandalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the Home Depot at 400 S. Pickett St. in Alexandria, the store has sold 15-20 generators (that go for around $650-$700) in the last 24 hours to folks likely worried that Hurricane Irene could blow out Northern Virginia's power.

But at several area grocery stores--in Annandale, Kingstowne and Old Town Alexandria--all is quiet, with plenty of water, toilet paper, loaves of bread and other goods that often get snapped up when the weather turns stormy fully stocked on the shelves.

Find out what's happening in Annandalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the grocery stores across the region visited by Patch editors on Thursday, there was still plenty of every thinkable ration, waiting for residents who are adopting a "wait and see" attitude about the (currently) Category 3 storm.

A worker at Executive Lock and Key Service hardware store in Del Ray said there are no plans to stock the shelves with extra products because of the hurricane.

β€œI haven’t noticed people picking up anything special,” said Tim, who asked that his last name not be published.

It was much the same story in Old Town Alexandria, where grocery stores were stocked. Some, such as the Trader Joe's on N. St. Asaph, were meeting with employees to discuss weekend plans for the storm.

What about you? Take our poll and let us know what your plans are.

Del Ray Editor Drew Hansen contributed to this story.


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