Shoppers hurry for last-minute groceries, supplies before Louisiana’s winter storm

METAIRIE, La. (WVUE) — On the day before a forecasted winter storm is expected to hit Southeast Louisiana, the most dominant grocery chain in the region saw shoppers descending on its various locations.

Karah Smith was shopping at the Rouses Supermarket on Airline Highway in Metairie. It was her second visit to the store in recent days.

“I was picking up for a mix of things, like we would normally cook for dinner. But I also wanted to have some non-perishable food for backup, if we lose power,” she said.

For many in Louisiana, this week will be the first time they’ve seen snow in years, for some maybe ever. That’ll certainly be the case for Smith’s daughter. She’s only 2 months old.

“I’m excited for her,” Smith said. “We’ll have pictures of her in her little snowsuit, outside hopefully.”

Marc Ardoin manages the Rouses on Airline Highway. He said workers stayed busy keeping shelves full. It’s a drill they have down pat from similar years of hurricane preparations.

“There’s definitely the water and those kinds of items we buy during hurricane season, but people are looking for a lot more cold weather items,” Ardoin said. “So, you’re seeing stew meat, and that kind of stuff. People are getting what they need to make gumbo.”

Former actor and radio personality John “Spud” McConnell was one of the customers near the freezer aisle. He said he’s unsure what the winter storm will bring, but his household will be fed.

“I got a couple of big Boston butts and I’m going to put them in the oven tomorrow when it’s really cold,” he said. “I’m going to bake them bad boys all day and I’m going to be eating pig like the pig that I am.”

Preparing for wintry weather also requires warm gear.

“People have definitely been coming out and stocking up on gloves, hats for the kids, anything that’s going to keep them warm,” said Bubba Henry, a sales associate at Massey’s Outfitters in Mid-City.

The store on Carrollton Avenue had a shipment of gloves arriving a few hours before closing time Monday. Henry expected the gloves to move quickly. He advised anyone planning to be out in the winter conditions to dress in layers.

“If they have base layers, that would be great,” Henry said. “If they have athletic wear similar to when they go play soccer — that stretchy spandex — something like that.”

Even for customers who’ve spent time in cold climates, there’s no such thing as being overly prepared. Arturo Peal visited Massey’s Outfitters on Monday for one essential. After that, he felt ready for the forecasted freeze.

“Oh yeah, the only thing I needed was wool socks, because I have no idea where my wool socks are. I haven’t seen them. They’re buried somewhere in storage,” Peal said.

Most businesses, schools and government offices will be closed Tuesday.

While Southeast Louisiana is unfamiliar with winter storms, the region’s next collective step resembles what many communities take during hurricane season: Waiting for the storm to pass.

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