As Barbados moves deeper into the hurricane season, hardware stores are reporting a steady demand for emergency supplies, with water tanks, flashlights, batteries and tarpaulins among the most sought-after items, while managers said more Barbadians are preparing well before any storm looms.
Major hardware retailers told Barbados TODAY on Monday that although they have not experienced a dramatic surge in sales since the hurricane season began in June, customers continue to buy essential preparedness items, with some changes in buying habits compared with previous years.
Michael Cummins Hardware manager at Ace H&B in Warrens (LE)
At ACE H&B Hardware and Lumber Inc. in Warrens, St Michael, manager Michael Cummins said: “I have seen an increase in the purchase of water tanks and the water pumps for distributing the water through the household.”
Cummins noted that while demand for most other products has remained consistent with previous years, the rise in water tank sales has been significant, “being that I think they’re VAT-free now”.
He added: “I have a whole range of items available for hurricane preparedness like generators. I have tarpaulins. I have water coolers, a whole set of nails and hammers, and a very popular tarp in 92×30 that everybody buys. I have all those in stock right now.”
Cummins also revealed that he had made a small addition to his own hurricane preparations this year: “I always have a water tank, so… there’s a portable tank that you can keep inside around the sink area.”
He urged Barbadians not to wait until severe weather is on their doorstep before getting ready.
“I would say be prepared early. Don’t wait until something happens and then you be rushing. Ideally, we would like nothing to happen, but just in case.”
At Carter’s General Stores in Wildey, store manager Alan Goodman said customer traffic has followed the usual seasonal pattern.
According to Goodman, customers are mainly buying smaller emergency essentials at this stage of the season: “I see the most interest is like flashlights, batteries, some tarpaulins. Those seem to be the items of focus.”
He added: “If there’s a threatening weather approaching, I think a little more focus may go on more so like generators, tarpaulins… then it obviously increases as the… the system gets closer to us.”
Goodman believes hurricane preparedness has improved over the years.
“It’s not as much last minute as years past, but there’s definitely been better preparation during hurricane season.”
While he has not noticed customers buying more because of price changes, he said “people are willing just to pay because they need the items”.
Goodman also stressed that households should think beyond surviving a storm and prepare for the clean-up that follows.
“You need to think about the aftermath as well, so when a system does pass, you’re going to need chainsaws, wheelbarrows, ladders, saws, cutlasses, things like that.
“People always think about the preparing, but often think of the aftermath as well.”
Calling preparedness a shared responsibility, Goodman encouraged Barbadians to support one another during emergencies.
“Preparedness is the key. But also look where you can help others. Look how we can help each other out. This is Mother Nature, we have no control over it, but we can control how we treat and how we look out for each other, and I think that’s important.”
The hurricane season officially ends on November 30. (LE)
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