Predicted snowfall and stocked grocery shelves

WINONA, Miss. (WCBI) – When the word ‘snow’ drops in Mississippi and Alabama, grocery stores know the crowds aren’t far behind.

It doesn’t matter if snow predictions are just zero to three inches, people are going to get prepared for when or if it falls.

SUPERVALU in Winona started preparing for the potential snow fall over the weekend.

Orders started coming in Monday morning and shelves were being stocked before doors opened.

When snow is in the forecast, grocery stores waste no time.

SUPERVALU here in Winona, started putting ‘snow’ orders in on Saturday.

“When we know it’s going to snow we order heavy, that way just in case, we try not to run out of anything,” says assistant store manager, Zachary Clark.

Bread and milk seem to be on everyone’s lists, but that’s not all you’ll see in their buggies.

“We had to get three extra pallets of water. I know we have to get, we’ve got the bread, eggs, and milk in today. We get bread every day except for Wednesdays. We also had to order extra rock salt for people’s driveways just in case. We had to get a jump on that.”

The south seems to get a jump on reacting to the word ‘snow.’

“We’re not used to it and you know, three inches for us might not be anything for the folks up north, but that’s a lot for us when you’re not used to driving in it,” said shopper Carol Baskin.

“We don’t get it that often. My grandmother is from the north and so she knows how to handle it, but nothing here is prepared for it. We don’t have the snow plows, none of that, so when it does snow, it gets dangerous depending on how much snow it is and how cold it gets.”

Clark personally remembers how dangerous things can get from the last round of snow.

“Last year when we had snow, the roads froze and I remember that because I tried to drive to go do the banking for the store. It did not go well, but I think it’s essential in case they get stuck, that way they have something that lasts a long time. They don’t have to worry about it going out, should the power go out and the lines go down because of the snow, because we’re not prepared for the snow here at all.”

Clark says the store also brings in extra staff to help with the additional traffic.