NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A major food store chain owner expressed shock yesterday as panic buying swept through his stores, leaving shelves barren of essentials like bread and even water while Hurricane Milton barreled toward South Florida.
Authorities issued warnings of heavy rain and possible flooding on Wednesday, schools announced closures, and some businesses prepared to shut down early. Many shoppers across New Providence wasted no time, rushing to stock up on food supplies.
Rupert Roberts, owner of the Super Value food store chain, shared his surprise when contacted by Eyewitness News, emphasizing that there was no need for the frantic buying spree. The food store chain had announced that it was closing at 6 pm on Wednesday.
“We tried to calm the waters by reassuring everyone that we were open and had sufficient inventory. We even advised customers to pick up the hard-to-get items ahead of time to avoid panic shopping,” Roberts explained. “But panic shopping doesn’t benefit anyone. I was truly surprised. There was no reason for it, yet the shelves were cleared of bread, leaving some people without. We’re open every day. Hopefully, the bakeries will restock by Thursday, and we can get back to smooth, stress-free shopping through the weekend.”
Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm, packing sustained winds of 120 mph with even higher gusts, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The powerful hurricane is expected to continue delivering life-threatening storm surges, flooding, and destructive winds across central Florida through today. Milton is the fifth hurricane to hit the US this year, joining the ranks of Category 1 Beryl, Category 1 Debby, Category 2 Francine, and Category 4 Helene.
