ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - People across our area have been making final preparations to stay safe in the storm.
That includes last minute trips to grocery and hardware stores. Lines at the pumps were unusually long.
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Roanoke resident Tammy Wolfe was one of the drivers filling her tank before the storm gets bad.
"I'm out here getting some gas, and last minute things done for the day for this big storm we are going to have," Wolfe said.
She said her children's safety was especially important, and she didn't want to risk being stranded in case of an emergency.
Roanoke 7-11 manager Kemper Ferron said Friday was an unusually steady day that will boost his bottom line.
"It is definitely been an abnormal rainy day here," Ferron said.
Ferron had to get an additional delivery of gas Thursday night to keep up with the demand, along with more staff to keep up with lines at the cash register.
"Usually rainy days take a serious damper on our sales. With the potential flooding and inclement weather trying to get their cars gassed up, buying hot food, buying drinks," Ferron said.
It was the same for Northwest Hardware. Operation Manager Nathan Overstreet says they've seen waves of customers stocking up for the storm.
"Business has been pretty hectic," Overstreet said.
He said most of their storm supplies were bought up Thursday night. They called for an emergency shipment of storm supplies for all of their stores in Roanoke.
"Everyone wants to protect their families and their homes so they are buying shop vacs, sump pump and sand bags," Overstreet said.
He said they want to be reliable to their customers who count on them to carry the supplies they need.