This is not the Labor Day Sale most North Carolinians have in mind.
Shoppers across the central part of the state on Monday visited supermarkets and wholesale stores to stock up on supplies in case of prolonged power outages and the loss of other utilities from Hurricane Dorian. In the Sandhills and by the coast, homeowners were thinking about protecting their home and their valuables.
"I think you need to be prepared for any eventuality," Keith Acree, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Emergency Management, said. "Rain could be an issue, flooding could be an issue, wind could be an issue."
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Indeed, hurricanes can be devastating in many ways, but the risks are different for people living by the beach and those living inside the Beltline.
Dina Stambler, who moved with her family from New Jersey only this summer, is drawing on her experience with Hurricane Sandy to prepare for Dorian.
"We moved with that generator," Stambler said. "We will get a gas can, we will fill it up. We hope this is just food for the week and there's no storm coming."
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS - THE BASICS
North Carolina Emergency Management encourages all families to start prepping for a weather emergency with a Family Emergency Plan, which should include discussions about what you will do before, during and after an emergency.
Families should also put together a basic emergency supplies kit which is comprised of many things that may already be in your home:
AFTER THE STORM
Preparing for the aftermath of the storm is perhaps as important -- and valuable -- as withstanding the storm.
High winds, storm surges, fallen trees and other issues could lead to property damage, which could then lead to a lengthy process of filing insurance claims.
NC Emergency Management lists the following tips as ways to save your family time and money after an emergency:
Be sure to have copies of:
Take photos or video of your personal belongings for insurance reasons. According to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, creating a digital or paper inventory will allow residents to quickly and easily report damage or losses in the wake of a storm. An inventory should record a complete list of your home's contents. When possible, include receipts, descriptions, estimated value and photos or videos using your smartphone. After the inventory is completed, be sure you have multiple ways to access it, for example, by storing a copy in the cloud, emailing it to yourself or sharing it with a friend or relative outside of the storm area.