The Amazing Race for Flashlights, Batteries and Sand

If you haven't purchased water, Ramen noodles, batteries or flashlights—all of the accoutrements for a natural disaster—hurry, because the inventory is running out, quick!

At the Home Depot at 585 Dekalb Avenue in Bed-Stuy, the parking lot is packed, and many of the emergency supplies needed to prepare for a natural disaster are simply... gone.

As soon as you walk into the store, a beleaguered voice echoes across the PA system, "Attention customers: We are all out of generators. We do not have any more flashlights or cement or sand. Nor do not have C or D batteries. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for shopping Bed-Stuy Home Depot. And please, get home safely."

One customer, Jill House, rushed into the store looking for a flashlight. She leaned in close to survey a near-empty rack of batteries (triple-A left only) where there were two Disney Tinkerbell Flashlights remaining, tiny enough for a four-year-old's hands. She wrinkled her nose in disappointment, grabbed one, and then changed her mind and put it back.

"I don't know what I'm going to do; I have a small flashlight in my house. I guess I'll have to use candles now," she said. "But I've got sandwiches ready. I have liquids. But I'm more concerned with my job. I work at the Gap on weekends, and I called there and nobody seems to know what the plan is."

It appeared, the Gap wasn't the only one without a clear plan. Several of the customers were still undecided about the storm's severity.

In fact, one customer who was in the checkout line getting ready to purchase paint had not even heard about the storm.

"What? There's gonna be a hurricane? In New York?" he asked incredulously. "When? Where can I find out about this?"

(The woman makes another announcement over the PA system about sold-out items... this time, sounding even more exhausted).

However, Charlotte Jackson was definitely preparing for Irene. She was pushing a cart with large bags of rocks and wood chips. She admitted the City might be overreacting a bit, but said she thinks it's better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to safeguarding her own home.

"Even when we have a normal thunderstorm, the water comes in under my back door," she said. "They don't have any more sand here, so I'm using bags of mulch and gravel, plus tarp for the window. There's things about my property that are vulnerable, so I'm getting prepared anyway."

"I just came here for flashlights, batteries and a radio, but they're out of real flashlights and batteries, and I don't even think they sell radios," said Sharon Jamison, 19. She was happy, nonetheless, as she found a black, pencil-size flashlight hidden in a pile of tools.

Rodney, a contractor, also was preparing for the hurricane. He was there with his daughter buying slats of wood, he said, to secure his doors and windows.

I approached one of the customer service workers on the floor, but before I could say anything she said, "Ma'am, we don't have nothing for the flood."

"Are you out of absolutely everything?" I asked.

"We're out of everything. There's nothing," she answered, then walked away.

(The woman makes another announcement over the PA system about sold-out items... this time, sounding more exasperated and even a little irate)

Finally, I decided to leave the store, but not before grabbing the last Tinkerbell flashlight and two packs of Energizer triple-A batteries. Turns out, this pink little sucker might be the only working flashlight in my entire house, if I cannot find any C or D batteries.