Throughout the region, shelves normally stacked with bread, bottled water, and milk were nearly empty by the time the storm that never came was supposed to arrive. What happened wasn't surprising, because panic buying is sparked every time a blizzard or hurricane is forecast. People shop as if they'll be cut off from their food supply for weeks.
People hear there's going to be a major blizzard and feel they have to stock their shelves.
It really isn't as bad as it seems, said Karen Maleta , a spokeswoman for ShopRite. Most people do their grocery shopping the same day every week, but when a storm is forecast they change their routine, Maleta said. If a storm is forecast for Friday or Saturday, they shop on Thursday. They may buy an extra quart of milk or loaf of bread, but they're not stocking up, she said. Those extra purchases, not panic buying, explain the empty shelves.