Stores out of Flashlights, Radios; Other Storm Items Still Available

We checked at some Pikesville stores to see whether they still have key items for storm preparedness.

Brace yourself. It's not looking good.

The bottom line is, you might have to opt for candles instead of flashlights, and your car radio might have to suffice if the electricity goes out. That's because we couldn't find battery-operated radios, either.

We called or visited the following stores:

• at Quarry Lake
• at 101 Reisterstown Road
• Home Depot at Reisterstown Plaza in Baltimore

And we looked for looked for these items:

Battery-powered Radios: None.

Flashlights: None.

Batteries: The Pikesville Target seemed to have the most. As of 12:30 p.m., a clerk said they have some, but they're going fast. Target has none of the large, square batteries, but they do have the coveted D batteries—the ones many flashlights require.

Bottled Water: Rite Aid, Target, Shoppers Food, Walgreens, and Giant all have it. At Giant, they are running low.

Candles: Shoppers Food has some scented ones in glass jars; Target has candles; and so does Walgreens.

What are some top-selling items as shoppers prepare for Hurricane Irene?

At Target, people are buying lots of bread, toilet paper and paper towels.

At Rite Aid, people have bought mostly water, batteries and radios, but not food.

Home Depot is sold out of everything on our list, as well as generators and lanterns.

At Trader Joe's which sells mostly food, shoppers are buying everything, even things that require refrigeration and preparation.