U.S. residents living on the Gulf Coast are hitting grocery stores searching for water and other essentials before a potentially life-threatening hurricane makes landfall.
The National Weather Service forecasts Tropical Storm Harvey will be upgraded to a major hurricane by Friday, “bringing life-threatening storm surge, rainfall, and wind hazards to portions of the Texas coast.”
“Life-threatening flooding is expected across much of the Texas coast from heavy rainfall of 12 to 20 inches,” reports the NWS, with some areas reportedly expected to receive 30 inches.
A photo from a Sam’s Club in Corpus Christi depicts a long check-out line full of people, with a caption reading, “Waiting to buy water for #Harvey.“
Waiting to buy water for #Harvey 🌀 pic.twitter.com/Uj9xjYFODp
— 📴 🌀 Hurricane (@oanderle) August 24, 2017
Tropical storm Harvey made up by grocery stores to sell water and canned goods. Fake news. Sad! #harveystorm pic.twitter.com/LwD6Ga5nOT
— Craig DiTommaso (@CraigDiTommaso) August 24, 2017
Photos from Houston’s ABC13 show empty shelves at several grocery stores.
KROGER CLEANED OUT: From Katy to Pearland, our viewers are finding empty store shelves before #Harvey. Get ready: https://t.co/pDMk3W3jmt pic.twitter.com/G5Rk6wONgc
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 23, 2017
#ABC13Eyewitness Amy just took these photos at the @Walmart in Alvin and they are out of water! #GetReady #Harvey https://t.co/fsy0JUcUzJ pic.twitter.com/HdEtAoYoaQ
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 23, 2017
People on Twitter described “fights” over water, with some likening the chaos to Black Friday.
These people are fighting over water at Walmart because of the hurricane, this ain’t Black Friday
— Ahmad Noubani 🇵🇸 (@ahmadn200055) August 24, 2017
Had to fight these ladies for the last 2 packs of water at sams #Harvey
— Samantha Chavez (@_SweetheartSam_) August 23, 2017
Texas don’t play when they know a hurricane is about to hit I had to fight for my water bottles today 😛
— Yareli Segura (@YareliseguraY) August 25, 2017
Wow! Gotta move fast if you want water! This is at a Fiesta on 45N. #Khou11 WATCH THIS pic.twitter.com/U4x2bsqVAQ
— Melissa Correa (@MCorreaKHOU) August 24, 2017
Grocery store is a already a mad house folks… #harvey pic.twitter.com/1Jg3xKsc0D
— Lauren Kelly (@LaurenMix965) August 23, 2017
Hurricane Harvey has people acting a total ass at the grocery store! I just needed some mustard bruh!
— Dexter Jonz (@ColdTrane13) August 24, 2017
most people start school this week n there's a hurricane and people are WYLIN at the store
— ☀ (@nuggette__) August 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/__ActuallyAlex/status/900750314755719169
Others were dismayed to learn they’d have to keep searching after finding empty shelves at their local store.
There's no water left in my home town omg people are taking this hurricane seriously
— valeria (@perriesott) August 24, 2017
Our new reporter @NNatario is getting ready for #Harvey and just learned to hit the store earlier for water! Any other tips for him? pic.twitter.com/KuaoK50BKg
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 24, 2017
Didn't think I wanted water until there wasn't any left. #Houston #Harvey pic.twitter.com/GWqOQSRZKi
— Janet Shamlian (@JanetShamlian) August 24, 2017
I had to drive almost 30 minutes to find a store that has water…
This Houston hurricane is no joke man I'm probably going up to north TX— ally (@Vintageasoul) August 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/loyalseidisixx/status/900726641252499456
The Kroger in the Brazos Town Center ran out of bottled water last night! #Harvey
— Stephen T Johnson (@STJfbherald) August 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/sydneyylynnae/status/900718284642844672
And others were concerned with keeping plenty of alcohol on hand.
Hurricane Supplies:
Water
Vodka
Canned/dry food
Vodka
Pet food
Vodka
Vodka
Don't judge. I'll be flooded in for 3 days with the kids. #Harvey— Foxxy (@The_Foxxy1) August 24, 2017
I got the Hurricane essentials at the grocery store- zebra cakes, jalapeño chips & wine.
— Press ❌ to Sean (@MrNishii) August 24, 2017
Ugh gotta go to the grocery store and stock up on essentials like liquor and water because we are getting a hurricane.
— Tori (@VicTORIousGable) August 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/DOUBLE_A_XXi/status/900751869290704896
Gona stock up on bottles of Crown for this hurricane since everyone has bought all the water bottles.
— Kory Lilley (@ThisFeelsMoist) August 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/DominaWarbux/status/900678762265812992
At least one person recommended people buy water filters instead of gallons of water.
people be really be buying water bottles cuz of the "hurricane" why cant u just filter ur water dumbasses
— 08 . (@nekkoistt) August 24, 2017
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has urged residents living on the coast to “Get prepared & stay safe.”
HEADS UP Texans along the coast. #TropicalStormHarvey may cause heavy flooding & damage. Get prepared & stay safe. https://t.co/JPHeRhf1mB
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 24, 2017
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