The milk and bread rush has commenced.
Pittsburghers across the region have begun heading to grocery and hardware stores in advance of what could be the biggest snowfall in the area in more than 15 years.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Moon predict the region will see about 10 to 14 inches of snowfall, beginning Saturday evening and ending Monday.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” said Holly Churman, of Fox Chapel, as she hauled her groceries into her car outside the Giant Eagle Market District in The Waterworks shopping center, near Aspinwall.
“I hope we’re in the low end. I know Pittsburgh does such a good job for preparing for heavy snow. I used to live in Texas, and we’re well-resourced here. I feel OK.”
Annette Dicerb of Greensburg was buying her normal amount of food for a Friday, with some extra because of the pending snowstorm.
“I’m more concerned about lowing power. The last time the power went out (during a storm), I lost $300 worth of food,” because the refrigerator was shut off, Dicerb said after filling her grocery cart with food at the Shop ‘n Save on Route 66 in Greensburg.
Tom Charley, who owns two Shop ‘n Save supermarkets in Greensburg and one in Murrysville with his brother, Mike, was expecting the store to be “very choatic” late Friday afternoon and night as shoppers stock up before the storm.
Because of the severe weather that likely will result in dangerous driving conditions, Charley said they will close all three of their supermarkets on Sunday.
Anyone driving around this weekend, needs good snow tires and that has meant a steady stream of customers since Wednesday, said Richard Durbiano, owner of Spino’s Tires at Car Care 1 in Greensburg.
The waiting room was crowded Friday morning and more motorists had appointments for the afternoon, Durbiano said.
“I already know I am not leaving at closing time. (5 p.m.) T’is the season. It’s a good thing,” Durbiano said.
Cameron Yockey, owner of Horizon Markets in Tarentum and New Kensington, said there’s been a steady rush of customers clamoring for bread and milk.
“We got totally wiped out on bread in both stores but there is more arriving shortly,” he said early Friday.
Yockey opened the micro-markets with the specific intention to provide daily goods for people without transportation. The impending snowstorm shows how important local grocery stores can be to the community, he said.
In both locations, Yockey has upped the inventory on essentials, he said, because suppliers have already notified him of possible delivery delays next week.
Standing in line among a maelstrom of shoppers at the Pittsburgh Mills Walmart, James McCready of O’Hara said the run on groceries was unwarranted.
“It’s ridiculous,” McCready said. “It’s going to be one day of snow, and people are panicking.
James’ wife Mickey said the Walmart was nearly the busiest she’d even seen it mid-day Friday, but she struck a more conciliatory tone.
“If it’s the storm of the century, people will be glad they have it,” she said. “But I do think people overreact.”
As she departed the Mills Walmart, Kim Beacom of Frazer said about half of her cart consisted of her typical shopping, while the other half were extra supplies for the weekend.
The extras, in part: snacks for her three boys, who Beacom said are looking forward to mounting their snowmobiles in the storm.
“My kids are excited,” she said.
Though the shelves were well stocked, Beacom said the Walmart was much more packed than usual.
It was much of the same at the Frazer Aldi, where Sara Marmo of Fox Chapel was doing her regular Friday shopping.
The store was noticeably busier, she said, and her usual bread was sold out.
Still, she said she’s stocked up and excited for a simple, home-bound weekend.
“We have what we need at home,” Marmo said.
Jay Martin spent time this week stacking a new shipment of rock salt outside Quarato’s Hardware in Leechburg.
“Magnesium Chloride is more expensive but it works better in lower temperature,” said Martin, of West Leechburg. “We’re lucky we got this shipment in maybe three, four days ago before they even mentioned this storm, so it’s pretty timely.”
Judi Damico, co-owner of Pat’s-Kiski Plaza Garden Center in Allegheny Township, said customers are stocking up on calcium chlorate, pet-safe ice melt, pet food and firewood.
“We have enough inventory,” Damico said.
Damico expects the busiest day for her business to come Saturday.
“We have our normal calls. A lot of people worry about the animals, we had a lot of people coming to get corn for the deer,” Damico said.
Robert Buck, of Brackenridge, was at Busy Beaver in New Kensington on Thursday trying to pick out the best snow shovel.
“It sounds crazy, and it sounds bad,” Buck said of the forecasts. “I’m trying to get a shovel because my last one broke in the last storm.”
He also planned to buy calcium chlorate at Busy Beaver. It works better in colder weather than rock salt, he said.
The NWS predicts Sunday’s temperatures will be in the mid-20s; daytime highs for the first half of next week will be in the upper teens or low-20s falling to about 5 to 10 degrees overnight.
“Everyone’s out getting shovels, salt or scrapers,” Buck said. “Trying to get to work Monday sounds like it will be an adventure.”
But James Clark, sales manager at Busy Beaver, hasn’t seen too much of a panic from people — yet.
“We might sell out of everything depending on how bad the snow is,” Clark said. “We haven’t had a bad snow yet.
“I think it will just be steady, and if not, then that will be good for us.”
Ryan Dickerhoff of O’Hara walked out of the Lowe’s in Frazer with several bundles of firewood.
He said he was stocking fuel for his wood-fired stove in case of a power outage. His supply, he said, would likely last a day or two.
“In case the power goes out, I don’t want the house to get too cold,” Dickerhoff said.
But he’s hoping the storm will provide some time to build a snowman and go sledding with family.
Like Dickerhoff, Ray Kress also snagged some logs at Lowe’s.
The McCandless resident said he still has functioning fireplaces he could use to heat at least part of his house if the power goes out.
Aside from picking up wood fuel, Kress said he’s gassed up his truck and small generator out of caution.
In an effort to beat the crowds, he said his wife purchased some extra toilet paper and filled up their freezer with food last week.
Luke Wasilowski, manager of Arnold’s Hardware in Harrison, said customers have reported other stores already selling out of things like rock salt and ice melt.
“For this time of year, we’re probably at double the amount of customers,” Wasilowski said.
Arnold’s remains stocked with rock salt, calcium chlorate, shovels and more, he said.
“It’s well-stocked for calcium chlorate, but rock salt, I don’t know when we’ll sell out of that,” he said Thursday afternoon.
Linda Moore, of Tarentum, had a simple answer when describing her weekend plans: “I’ll be staying in the house.”
Her friends and family are able to drive her to get groceries, but she expressed concern for others who don’t have means of transportation. There’s not a lot of grocery stores in the Alle-Kiski Valley, she said.
“If you don’t have a car, it can be a big problem,” she said.
“This cold weather, it needs to go away.”
Staff writers Kellen Stepler, James Engel, Joyce Hanz and Joe Napsha contributed to this report. Kellen can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com. James can be reached at jengel@triblive.com. Joyce can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com. Joe can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
