North Texas stores see last-minute shoppers preparing for the winter storm

DALLAS - If you haven’t already, now is the time to run to the grocery store and prepare your home for the arctic blast.

Friday night’s rain is expected to turn into freezing rain, sleet, and snow on Saturday and Sunday.

Last-Minute Shopping

Most people who went to Walmart in Mesquite on Friday were stocking up on groceries such as milk, eggs, and bread, as well as firewood, blankets, portable phone banks, and candles.

With temperatures cold enough to preserve perishables, some people were also filling the fridge and would cook outside if the power went out. Others bought new TVs to pass the time while stuck indoors.

For those who don’t want to brave the cold, the store said it would be honoring online deliveries until the roads got too dangerous this weekend. At that point, orders would be refunded.

What they're saying:

Vivian Frazier said ever since the winter storm of 2021, she doesn’t take ice and snow warnings lightly.

"We bundled our family up into one house this weekend. We want to make sure everyone is good to go. Got the pipes wrapped, wood for the fireplace ready to have a good weekend," she said. "Bunch of firewood this time, candles, gas in my car in case I need to wrap up or plug in a phone."

Last-Minute Home Prep

Just about everyone who went to Ace Hardware in Haltom City on Friday seemed to be searching for last-minute items to prepare their home for the worst-case scenario. 

Anything to protect pipes and reduce their exposure to the cold was flying off the shelves. Most indoor heaters were sold out. Even high-end generators were selling as soon as they were placed on the floor.

Store manager Ben Juarez just warned that safety and knowledge are imperative when using a generator. 

"Read your owner’s manual. Definitely read your owner’s manual. Keep it covered. Don’t let it get exposed to the elements. Just monitor it as it’s on. These are not toys. Be careful with them. Again, read the manual," he said.

Generators must operate outdoors.

"It needs to be well ventilated in the outdoor area. Make sure. You don’t wanna put this inside your garage or in your house. It needs to be like on a back patio. It could be dangerous," Juarez said. "It’s an engine basically, so it’s going to have exhaust. You’re going to wanna make sure you’re venting well."

Final Fill-Ups And Supply Pickups 

In Arlington, Godley Propane saw long lines as customers waited to fill up their propane tanks just in case.

"Oh no, I was here this afternoon. I was on the street waiting to pull in," said Brian Thompson, an Arlington resident waiting in that long line.

Many people waited to make sure they had a backup plan while braving the cold, rainy weather on Friday.

"I've been running around all day. You get home, and you think, OK, the weather hasn't gotten bad yet, I can go back out one more time," said Dana Kolling, a Grapevine resident who had been prepping for the storm all day.

Godfrey Propane told FOX 4's Peyton Yager they were open during the 2021 winter storm, and they'll be open tomorrow as weather conditions are expected to worsen over the coming hours.