WI Supermarkets See 'Huge Increase' in Sales Thursday

West Islip residents are preparing for Hurricane Irene by stocking up on safety items and necessities at , and

, Hurricane Irene is expected to hit Long Island sometime on Sunday. 

King Kullen and Stop & Shop have been popular locations where people have been gathering last-minute items before they sell out.

"We've seen a huge increase in business," said John H., assistant store manager at Stop & Shop.  "Our biggest increase is with bottled water. After that, people are stocking up on bread, milk, canned food, batteries and flashlights."  

Both King Kullen and Stop & Shop had nearly empty shelves where they stock water. The same can be said for the electronic and canned food aisles. It's recommended by both stores that everyone get what they need by Friday.

West Islip resident Gerry Eppers was at Stop & Shop with her husband, filling up an entire wagon with necessities.  

"We're going to need cereal, canned soup, water, bread, fruit and many other things," Eppers said. 

People are also flocking to Ace Hardware to stock up on safety items.  

"People are mostly getting flashlights, extension cords, batteries and also generators," said the store's manager, who did not give his name.

Generators can start at $500, and they are currently not available at the West Islip location. They are expecting them to be delivered on Friday, along with other safety items.