Many stores remained boarded up and closed Tuesday, leaving those seeking to replenish their supplies with limited options.
Lowe’s in Opelousas reopened Tuesday with abbreviated hours.
Peppy Glaze, a Lowe’s manager, said the store will open at 7 a.m. today and hold its regular hours.
Generators were in high demand as many people were without power.
Silver Sales Dollars, a Mississippi company, set up four trucks packed with generators in the parking lot of Stage to sell to customers in need of electricity.
Mike Harbin, a truck driver and salesman, said the company typically travels to storm-affected areas to sell generators.
The company visited Lafayette for Hurricane Lili, Deridder after Hurricane Rita and Hattisburg, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina.
Harbin insists that the business is legitimate and intends to help areas hit by hurricanes or blizzards.
Gas and diesel-powered generators sold anywhere from $450 to $1,200, Harbin said.
“Anything we sell, you’ll get a receipt with our company letterhead and a phone number and a business card,” he said.
Crowds of people and cars began to form in the parking lot before 10 a.m,. and by 1 p.m. the line stretched almost to the street.
Craig Tyler and Clifford Thierry of Opelousas considered purchasing a generator after losing power.
“If it goes for more than a day, then we will have to consider buying,” Thierry said.
Lines also formed at the other businesses that opened soon after the storm.
In other areas, the Sunset Mini Mart was open taking customers.
The Walgreens on Creswell Lane opened and began to see customer traffic.
In town, a line of motorists aiming to refill their vehicles with gasoline tried to fit on the small parking lot of the Tobacco Plus and ShopRite.
At the Lowe’s, Glaze said they were letting customers a few customers at the time.
Supplies were limited and the store sold out of many items.
“We do have trucks coming,” he said. “It’s just a matter of when they get here to us.”
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