By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Local stores have seen a run on portable generators and other equipment since thousands of local residents lost their power yesterday.
Charlie Petersen, owner of Weaver’s Rent-All in Bloomington, said his store has a waiting list for people looking for a generator or dehumidifier.
“We still have quite a few people without power,” Petersen said. “We are out of generators but we still have some carpet fans available to try to get the basements dried out once you get the water taken care of.”
Petersen added the store has a waiting list for any items that aren’t currently in stock.
“One of the reasons we can’t hold stuff for people is because we don’t know how long people are going to have them,” Petersen said. “When it gets to a situation like this we have to be first-come first-served.”
An employee at Home Depot in Normal said they have some portable generators, sump pumps and shop vacs available.
“Sump pumps and dehumidifiers are going out the door,” sales associate Brian Irwin said. “It seems like generators every 10 minutes are going out the door.”
An employee at Lowe’s in Bloomington said they are currently out of generators.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
