As Hurricane Gustav barrels toward a Monday morning landfall on the Louisiana coast, campus area stores are running low on supplies and beginning to close their doors. Winn Dixie on Burbank Drive, Wal-Mart on College Drive and Walmart Neighborhood Market on Highland road have all closed and will reopen when the effects of Gustav end. Both Albertson’s on Perkins Road and Bluebonnet Boulevard will close tonight between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to assess if the stores will open again before Gustav strikes. Batteries and bottled water are available at both locations, but canned food and bread are running low, according to store employees. Flashlights and ice chests are also available at both stores, but “are going fast.” Employees at both stores said they do not expect to open Monday.But American Market, or A.M. Mart, on Nicholson Drive will weather the storm with open doors. “We like to be open in case someone needs something,” said clerk Karen Vong. “We’re not to worried about it.” A.M. Mart will remain open during its normal hours, 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, during Gustav’s arrival. Vong said many University students have purchased candles, drinks, sandwich meat, bread, bottled water, beer and liquor, all of which the store expects to remain in stock. “People are stocking up for the storm,” Vong said. “But we still have backup supplies.”As for the one item students seem to be forgetting as they prepare for Gustav?
“Toilet paper,” Vong laughed. —–Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]