5 Things Floridians Stock Up on at Publix Before a Hurricane

Hurricane season doesn’t end the moment summer does.

When a storm heads for Florida, shoppers at Publix often rush for the same handful of items.

This is what shelves often run low on when a storm is on the way.

1. Bottled Water

Publix limited bottled water at a St. Petersburg store ahead of Hurricane Ian in September 2022.

That store capped each household at two 24- or 32-packs a day, plus four 1-gallon containers, according to CBS News.

As it tracked Ian, Publix said its locations may limit quantities of items such as water.

Publix publishes no standing purchase limit, so any cap you run into belongs to that storm.

Another Tampa Bay-area Publix had sparse shelves, with only individual bottles of water left.

Singles were what remained.

A photo caption in the Tampa Bay Times put a Publix in Orlando’s Metrowest area nearly sold out of water on the Saturday before Hurricane Ian made landfall.

2. Toilet Paper

A Publix in Oviedo, north of Orlando, was missing many toilet paper and bottled water packages ahead of Hurricane Milton.

That was the picture by Monday, October 7, 2024, according to Sara Belligoni, a University of Central Florida disaster researcher, in Fox Business.

The paper products shelves at the Publix in Rivertown, in St. Johns County, were bare that same Monday.

Both stores were picked over by then, so you may want paper products in your cart sooner.

3. Bread

On September 26, 2022, ahead of Hurricane Ian, Publix said it had seen increased purchases on items such as bread, water, batteries and canned goods.

At the Miami Shores Publix before Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, a shopper told CBS Miami she picked up bread, ice cream and peanut butter.

If bread is on your list, you’re buying an item Publix named, just like that shopper.

4. Canned Goods

Canned goods appear in Publix’s Ian statement as an example of items with increased purchases, not as a complete list.

The Red Cross recommends nonperishable foods such as canned meats, fruits, vegetables, soups and puddings, in a hurricane guide Publix posts on its website.

If you’re stocking cans, the soup already in your pantry fits that Red Cross list.

5. Batteries

Publix listed batteries among the items with increased purchases before Hurricane Ian.

That list also includes a portable radio, flashlights, and a clock with extra batteries, so if you own flashlights or a radio, your spares belong on it.

Publix’s Stock-Up Lists

Publix encouraged people in Ian’s path to stock up on emergency supplies and food items.

If you’re building your list from that one, Publix named water, powdered drinks, dried fruit, peanut butter and jelly, and baby formula.

Before Hurricane Irma in 2017, Publix told Miami New Times that customers wanted water and shelf-stable items, and that it was working on extended deliveries to replenish shelves.

Publix also told shoppers that some stores might be out of a favorite brand and encouraged them to buy what was available.

If your favorite brand is gone, Publix’s Irma advice was to buy what was available.

Publix’s Storm Delivery Statements

Publix said in its Ian statement that its teams were working to keep stores stocked.

Deliveries would continue as long as it was safe.

During Hurricane Idalia preparations, a Publix spokeswoman told the Orlando Sentinel that availability would vary by store and time, depending on delivery schedules.

If you find your Publix thin, delivery schedules may explain why.

Store-by-Store Shelves

Three Orlando-area Publix stores each looked different during Hurricane Idalia preparations.

A Publix south of downtown Orlando had ample supplies of water, ice and other hurricane necessities.

The Publix in Orlando’s Baldwin Park neighborhood had largely empty water shelves on a Tuesday morning.

Water was still available inside the Casselberry Publix, where a shopper filled three five-gallon jugs.

Before Hurricane Matthew, the Miami Shores Publix still appeared well stocked with water and other storm supplies.

A St. Cloud resident who stopped at a Publix on Monday, October 7, 2024, for snacks found several empty shelves, Fox Business said.

That leaves you guessing about your store until you walk in.

Hurricane Season’s Official End

A Publix stock-up run can still fall inside the season, which the National Hurricane Center puts at June 1 to November 30.

Publix shelves in Oviedo and St. Cloud were already missing items on Monday, October 7, 2024, with almost two months of the season left.