Pre-storm preparations are wiping grocery shelves clean this Friday and underground gasoline tanks dry as Eunice braces for Gustav, whenever and whatever it might be.

Bottled water, soft drinks, beer, canned goods, propane bottles, chips, candy, cookies, all were snapped up by residents girding for the worst and hoping for the best.

If it's edible and doesn't require refrigeration, it's most likely availabe in only scant supply - and Gustav's not supposed to cross land, whenever he crosses, until Monday night-Tuesday morning.

Gasoline is just about gone in the city as residents fuel up for staying or going.

Vehicles are full; storage containers are full.

Generators are sold out and those for rent are all reserved.

A precious item is a three-way adaptor necessary for some generator hookups.

Sandbags -- there per door per household -- are disappeariing as rapidly from the city barn as they can be filled. In some instances, residents are shoving the sand themselves.

Batteries -- six volt, nine volt, AA, AAA, C and D -- are weighing down many bags.

Digital camera batteries and memory chips are moving quickly.

ATMs are dispensing cash as fast as customers can punch in pin numbers.