Customers are fighting over water as grocery stores are rapidly selling out of supplies, increasing the frenzy before Hurricane Harvey slams into Texas.
The powerful storm is expected to hit the gulf region on Friday and officials have asked residents to evacuate as they prepare for chaotic flooding and power outages.
Those who are staying in the path of the hurricane rushed to grocery stores in order to stock up on water, food, gas and other supplies on Thursday night.
However, they arrived to find shops with empty shelves, causing people to fight over the last containers of water as some likened the scene to Black Friday.
People are panicking as grocery stores are rapidly selling out of supplies in Houston (pictured), increasing the frenzy on Thursday before Hurricane Harvey hit Texas on Friday
Shelves were empty, causing people to fight over the last containers of water as some likened the scene to Black Friday (pictured)
The powerful storm is set to hammer the Texas Gulf Coast with an extremely dangerous combination of ‘torrential rainfall, storm-surge flooding and destructive winds’ this weekend. Pictured: People stocking up on water in Houston
People have taken to social media to post pictures of the mad dash as they went to get supplies on Thursday night
People have taken to social media to post pictures of the mad dash as they went to get supplies on Thursday night.
Photos show people waiting in long lines to check out with pallets of water bottles in their carts and cars lined up around blocks to get gas.
One user wrote on Twitter: ‘People grabbing cases of water like it’s a Black Friday sale. Hurricane Harvey is real.’
Another said: ‘I had to drive almost 30 minutes to find a store that has water… This Houston hurricane is no joke man.’
A dismayed woman wrote: ‘Bread is gone. Gas is gone. Water is gone. If you don’t have it already, you need to befriend your neighbors.’
Some had to drive for miles in order to find a store that had water remaining, such as this Twitter user who said she drove for 30 minutes
The powerful Category 3 storm is expected to hit the gulf region on Friday and officials have asked residents to evacuate as they prepare for chaotic flooding and power outages
People are also stocking up on bread. This bakery section of a Walmart store in Houston sits empty as people prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Harvey
Although danger looms over the region, one man joked: ‘Topo Chico n La Croix sold out before bottled water at my local Krogers. Bougie hipsters are ready for you, Harvey!’
Texas Governor Greg Abbott preemptively declared a state of disaster for 30 counties on or near the coast to speed deployment of state resources to any areas affected.
He also activated 700 members of the Texas Army Guard, Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard to prepare for the storm with winds up to 130mph and an expected 30 inches of rainfall .
Harvey will be the first hurricane to strike Texas since 2008 after Category 2 Hurricane Ike devastated some parts of the state.
The chips and other bagged foods section of a Walmart store in Houston is almost empty as people prepare for the storm that is expected to have winds up to 130mph
Harvey will be the first hurricane to strike Texas since 2008 after Category 2 Hurricane Ike devastated some parts of the state. The hurricane (pictured) is expected be a life-threatening storm with a large storm surge and extensive flooding expected.
The weather service said in an statement early on Thursday: ‘Now is the time to check your emergency plan and take necessary actions to secure your home or business. Deliberate efforts should be underway to protect life and property.’
Emergency officials asked residents along the upper Texas coastline to move or prepare to move inland.
Those in low-lying areas were urged to seek higher ground, and those elsewhere were told to monitor official announcements closely.
The powerful storm is set to hammer the Texas Gulf Coast with an extremely dangerous combination of ‘torrential rainfall, storm-surge flooding and destructive winds this weekend,’ the Weather Channel reported.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office sent out an alert to residents about potential sightings of alligators due to the storm
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Corpus Christi’s Mayor Joe McComb told people not to dismiss Harvey and to voluntarily evacuate, saying: ‘We encourage the residents in low-lying areas, as they say, to get out of Dodge.’
McComb added: ‘Go to a family, friend and get to higher ground.’
The mayor’s warning comes on the heels of Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office sending out an alert to residents about potential sightings of alligators due to the storm.
The department tweeted: ‘Gators and flooding advice via @txgatorsquad: Expect them to be displaced. Simply looking for higher ground. Leave alone until water recedes.’