(A response to a thread on the other forum)

Our storm came in on Monday night, five days ago. My husband was able to make it into work--very gingerly--on Friday afternoon for a couple of hours. On Thursday afternoon, suffering from cabin fever and worrying about running out of beer, he went to Kroger. He reported no milk, bread or eggs; produce and meat counters picked over, just the dregs left.

One of the cats developed an infection and we had to venture out to the vet today--the fifth day. With the exception of interstates, even the major arteries have some serious compacted snow and/or thick ice. Kroger being next door to the vet, I popped in and had a look. Hardly any produce. I spotted the produce manager and said, "Looks like a plague of locusts went through." He said he had been promised a delivery at 11 a.m. but it was now 2 p.m. and still no word. The meat, poultry and fish counters were similarly depleted. There was little milk, no eggs (and few packs of EggBeaters), no sour cream, cottage cheese, butter or margarine; sausage and ham almost gone, no bacon. There was a little cheese. Potato chips, sugar and bread were cleaned out. All shelves showed major gaps, some more than others, such as soups, canned fruit, canned meats, stews, chili, et., and cake, pancake and bread mixes. Pet food was in very short supply; there was no bird seed. Paper towels and toilet paper were almost gone. There were no firestarters or firewood. I didn't check OTC meds or baby food but I have no reason to suppose they were in any better shape.

My neighbor tells a similar tale about Harris Teeter and her sister-in-law had the same to say about Winn-Dixie. (These four stores, including the two different Kroger stores, are in four different areas of the city.) I know some gas stations had run out of gas a day or two ago but I don't know if they have been resupplied.

An ice storm is forecast for tonight and tomorrow with "significant" ice accumulation on trees and power lines. If the forecast proves accurate, I don't see many deliveries being made in the next few days. It will be interesting.

Prior to this snowstorm, the only experience I have had with long-lasting storm aftermaths were Hurricane Floyd (which dreadfully affected all of eastern N. Carolina but caused us little inconvenience), Hurricane Fran a few years ago, an ice storm in Little Rock around 1975, Hurricane Camille in 1969, a major snowstorm around 1964 in southern England, another in 1959 in the Midlands, and a crippling snow event in 1947 which affected the whole of Britain.

Some historians have postulated that the relatively mild weather the world has experienced over the last fifty years is about to or is at an end. They postulate that this temperate weather has been an aberration and that the normal expectation is for more severe weather; certainly the weather in Britain has been much worse in the last ten years. That hypothesis has been a factor in my preparations.

I must add that I have fish antibiotics for us and the pets, but since the vet was open today and not too far away and I kinda wanted to see Kroger anyway. . .

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 29, 2000

Answers

Taz, I noticed the same thing here in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Bilo store was completely out of canned veggies, canned meat, soups,etc. I've been shopping at that store for 3 years and have never seen anything like that before.It gives you an errie feeling.

-- Cecilia (Cecilia@survivalfor.me.com), January 30, 2000.

I haven't had to venture to the grocery store since mid-December... With the icestorms in N.C. - it's been great to avoid the mad rush for food/supplies..

-- mmmm (mmmm@mmmm.com), January 30, 2000.

Been thinking of you,Old Git in between stuffing boxes.Is there no end to it for both of us. ??

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), January 30, 2000.

Old Git -- Got rum????

This merits a repost on the non-preps forum.

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-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@upina.cellrelaytower), January 30, 2000.

I will however leave you to act in your own name.

-- Squirrel Hunter (nuts@upina.cellrelaytower), January 30, 2000.