Two of the most important items to have when a hurricane strikes are cash and gas. Once the power goes out, ATM machines wont dispense cash and gas pumps wont dispense fuel. Stores that don’t have power, but might still be open, can’t run a credit card; cash will be the order of the day until power is restored.
Fuel can become scarce and remain so; if a gas station is low to start and blocked roads or other hazards slow down gas trucks, hurricane survivors are likely to see lines of cards down the block at the few stations that have gas.
Being ready before the warnings and watches begin is key to minimizing discomfort and disaster. Once they begin the lines will form at the hardware stores for boards and nails, grocery stores will quickly run out of bottled water, and gas stations will be busy constantly. Once the storms pass, the price gougers will appear, ice will vanish from stores, and options for acquiring food and supplies will be severely limited.