Terror threat sparks scramble for supplies - Got duct tape? Plastic? Store shelves are emptying quickly
www.gainesvilletimes.com Saturday, February 15, 2003 By ALVIN PEABODY The Times
Greg Covington packed his shopping cart with batteries, duct tape and plastic sheeting as he shopped Friday at Lowe's Home Improvement Store on Skelton Road.
"When we heard about a terrorism alert earlier this week, my wife insisted that I stock up on these supplies just in case something does happen," the East Hall County resident said.
The federal government raised the national threat level to orange, the second highest, on Feb. 7 after U.S. intelligence obtained unspecified evidence that agents of al-Qaida might be preparing for another attack.
The government had urged citizens to use duct tape and plastic sheeting to cover windows and doors in the event of chemical or biological attack. In addition to those supplies, people are buying batteries, flashlights, portable radios, gas masks, survival gear and weapons.
"We've seen a rush to buy a lot of these items over the past several days," said Keith Abernathy, a Lowe's executive in Gainesville. "We couldn't bring them in fast enough, as people were buying them off the shelves."
Home Depot on Dawsonville Highway also has seen a jump in such purchases. The store is prominently displaying items useful in an emergency. Store officials have asked their suppliers to keep flashlights, batteries, duct tape and plastic sheeting coming and instructed their stores to keep the shelves stocked.
Ben Vallano of Oakwood shopped at Home Depot for plywood to build a bookcase for his daughter over the weekend.
"But I couldn't help but pick out a few of the emergency items I see here on display," Vallano said Friday afternoon.
The father of four bought two flashlights, 10 packs of batteries and two rolls of plastic.
"We all are worried about what could possibly happen to us. Let's not forget the recent warnings from Osama bin Laden," Vallano said, referring to al-Qaida's leader.
Despite the alerts and increased likelihood of a war with Iraq, some people are taking it in stride.
"Of course I'm frightened about the unknown," said Rachel Hambry. "Aren't we all? But I refuse to be intimidated by those terrorists overseas. They're not going to dictate how I conduct my life on a daily basis," said the Lula resident as she shopped at Lowe's.
Gertrude Loggins, who accompanied Hambry at the store, agreed.
"We're heading for Washington, D.C., this weekend to visit some family," she said. "You can bet that if I was concerned about terrorism I certainly wouldn't be going up there."
E-mail: apeabody@gainesvilletimes.com