THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160426
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER CHRISTMAN, staff writer
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Long lines clogged more than just evacuation routes Tuesday.
People packed gas stations and grocery, hardware, and convenience stores to stock their cars and cupboards for the coming of Felix.
Many left empty-handed. Retailers could not keep pace with the hefty hurricane demand.
Motorists sucked dry the eight gasoline pumps at the Amoco station in Kill Devil Hills by 3:30 p.m., said manager Carrie Letterle. Drivers waited in long lines at other stations.
``We're completely empty,'' Letterle said. ``We're not sure when our next delivery is going to be able to make it here, so we might be out for a while.''
But Letterle said the station's Red Apple Market soothed patrons with another liqud - beer.
``Everyone wants beer,'' Letterle said. ``We have sold a whole lot of it today.''
Water, not beer, was on the minds of Brew Thru patrons in Kitty Hawk, said manager Sherry Straub.
``We've sold some beer, but it's nonalcoholic beverages - especially water - that have been selling,'' Straub said. ``And gasoline - we're completely out of unleaded.''
Shelves that once overflowed with batteries and flashlights sat naked in ACE Hardware in Nags Head. Duct tape, tarps and nails also were scarce.
``This is worse than it has ever been,'' said ACE sales clerk Celeste Banks.
Tim Walters, president of Seamark Foods, said last-minute shoppers crammed his stores in search of water, batteries, beer, bread and canned food.
``It's been really busy all day, but we intended to be busy,'' Walters said. ``People are either stocking up or stopping in on their way out of the area.
``I've been through this about four of five times, and you just hate to see it happen as a retailer. It's hard on business. You don't know what's going to happen.''
Plywood was the hot item for Griggs Lumber in Manteo.
``People are scrambling to secure their windows, glass and homes,'' Walters said. ``To say we've sold 1,000 sheets of plywood would be a conservative estimate.
``I'll go home and dream about plywood tonight.''
KEYWORDS: HURRICANE FELIX by CNB