Region stocks up on what's important in face of big snowstorm

Rock salt and a full tank of gas will get most people through the upcoming storm, say retailers who were selling lots of both today.

Snow is due by 6 a.m. Wednesday in New London County. The National Weather Service's winter storm warning says the storm could last a full day, until 6 a.m. Thursday.

Customers at the ShopRite supermarkets in Norwich and New London are grabbing bags of rock salt for their sidewalks and driveways, along with the basic foodstuffs like milk, bread and eggs, said supermarket owner Ken Capano Sr.

"We have rock salt in the entrance-way, by the registers, pallets of it in the back room," he said. "That's one of the items you try never to run out of. We're prepared for the big storms because we stock up early."

B.J.'s in Waterford is planning to stay open through 10 tonight, an hour later than normal, and will open an hour earlier Wednesday, at 8 a.m., to be more available to the increase in traffic the store is seeing, said Shauna Gallagher, a corporate spokeswoman with the company, which is based in Nadick, Mass.

Milk and eggs are big sellers at B.J.'s today, she said.

Even at the smallest gas stations like Evans Mobil in Pawcatuck, customers are also making sure they have a full tank of gas in advance of a day of ice and snow, said Office Manager Allison Evans-Trombino.

For the most part, Capano and Evans Trombino said, people already bought the ice scrapers, shovels and windshield wiper fluid needed for snowstorms when the first storm of the season hit, so those things are not moving off the shelves as rapidly as rock salt and gas.

"I don't know if they need as much of the paraphernalia because they get it early on," Capano said.

Other quick sellers, he noted, are fire logs.

Preparation for the storm is under way at the state Department of Transportation as well.

Chris White, a DOT maintainer/truck driver was busy this morning getting his plow ready. The whole state DOT garage was abuzz with activity as the crews prepared the equipment for the coming snowstorm.

The Groton garage is responsible for Interstate 95 from the Rhode Island border to the New London side of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge.

White, whose truck can clear a 28-foot swath, covers the highway from Route 27 in Mystic to the Gold Star.

"You get a little excited," White says about the impending storm. "It's a lot of fun and it's a lot of work. You've got a lot to worry about driving something this big down the road," he added.

The National Weather Service said to expect heavy winds in the afternoon and evening with gusts reaching up to 30 mph and up to 45 mph at the coast.

The northeast winds will create drifts and near blizzard-like conditions along with the potential for power outages.

After all is said and done, we may be shoveling up to 9 inches of snow.

At Foxwoods Resort Casino, spokeswoman Lori A. Potter said in an e-mail: "All gaming departments provide rooms for team members who need to stay on property due to inclement weather. They are instructed that, if they think they may stay over, to bring toiletries and change of clothing to work with them."