Hardware Stores Stocking Up for Sandy

Store owners aren't taking any chances when it comes to making preparations for Hurricane Sandy, many already getting into full gear for 'Frankenstorm.' 

Kings Park Hardware said they are stocked and ready.

"We are extremely busy preparing for the storm," said Steve, an employee of the store. "It is almost like last year (Hurricane Irene)."

The store is expecting a shipment tonight or tomorrow morning, which will have storm supplies such as candles, shingles and felt paper for roofing needs, batteries and lanterns. Everything but generators.

"We sold out of our stock of generators. We have a shipment coming in, but they are already sold out as well. Customers have pre-paid for them," said Steve. "We are here for the community. As long as we have supplies we will be here."

Generators look like they will be the hard to come by item.

An associate at Commack Home Depot said the store, as well as all of their Long Island locations were sold out. At the time of the call, they were not expecting an additional shipment. Customers should call to verify if additional shipments will be sent. The associate said they were, however, getting in addtional supplies of batteries and flashlights.

Smithtown's Ace Hardware keyholder Mike Bergman said Friday afternoon that they would have generators in stock on Monday as part of their hurricane preparation shipment. 

Bergman said Ace learned a lot from last year's experience with Tropical Storm Irene and started the supply preparation early.

"We're prepared, we made an earlier start on it. Last year was kind of a last-minute thing as far as panic and getting everything into the stores, they're getting them in earlier this year," he said. 

The keyholder also said Ace learned what sold more from Irene to Sandy, and will carry more stock of those items, such as more C and D batteries instead of AA and AAA.

Michael O`Shea of All-American Hardware in Hauppauge said Friday has been a busy day. He's placing extra phone calls to make sure his store is fully stocked after customers emptied shelves during Hurricane Irene in August 2011. 

"We’re bringing trucks every few hours reloading with batteries, flashlights and we will be open longer hours, 7-days a week. Whatever it takes," O`Shea said. 

Like many area stores, All-American Hardware was sold out of D batteries, flashlights and generators in 2011. Other popular hardware purchases during Irene included battery-powered lanterns, chainsaws, coolers, plywood and window covers. 

"The demand has definitely picked up. We are specially ordering generators for weekend delivery," O`Shea said. 

Northeast Equipment on Route 111 had long lines on Friday afternoon as customers began seeking supplies for the 'Frankenstorm.' Residents were seen leaving the store with new chainsaws in hand, useful after Irene downed hundreds of trees across the Town of Smithtown.

The National Hurricane Center reports Sandy is a Category 1 storm as of Friday at 8 a.m., packing 80-mph winds (down from 105 mph) as its moves through the Bahamas. Predictions still call for it to make landfall on the New Jersey-Delaware border but that could change, and forecasts still call for Long Island to get 4-6 inches of rain as of Friday morning. 

To be prepared for the potential punch of Hurricane Sandy, here is a list of places to get supplies in the Smithtown area: 

• Kings Park Hardware
• Ace Hardware (Smithtown)
• Do It Best Hardware (Nesconset)
  
• Key Food
  
• Commack Hardware
• Deal$ 
• Home Depot (Jericho Turnpike) 
• Home Depot (Crooked Hill Road) 
• King Kullen 
• ShopRite 
• Walmart 
• Waldbaum's (Mayfair)
• ShopRite
• Target (Vets Highway)
• Target (Henry Street)

Have any good hurricane preparation tips? Advice you learned from Hurricane Irene? Tell us in the comments below.