Local residents flock to grocery stores ahead of winter storm

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - People were rushing out of their homes to get groceries for the week before a winter storm hits the state.

“I picked today to go out before things get really iffy,” local resident Karl Haise said.

Some Madison Lake residents kept their focus on the essentials during the calm before the storm.

“Well, we want to make sure we have a full gas tank, make sure we have laid in all the supplies we need, and we have enough time to do that,” Madison Lake resident Cheryl Thoreson said. “And any appointments that we have that we know we can’t make, we change them up.”

Keith Thoreson, her husband, had his eyes set on a different item of comfort.

“[We have] to make sure we have plenty of comfort food,” Keith Thoreson said.

However, some Monday shoppers focused on their meal for the night, rather than stock up for the storm.

“[We’re] gonna make some soup, and then work our way around these busy parking lots,” North Mankato resident Shaun Berhow said. “But, otherwise, we don’t prep too much.”

Even with the high snow fall on its way, some residents feel confident that their schedules won’t change much and they’ll be working like any regular day.

“I live right around the corner from it, so it usually doesn’t close down,” Berhow said.

Some locals are just happy to stay indoors.

“It’s fortunate that we don’t have to be any place, you know to work or anything like that,” Keith Thoreson said. “So, we take it pretty easy.”

Other residents shared their thoughts about this week’s incoming storm.

“I think about that Halloween blizzard way back 30 years ago, or something like that,” Haise said. “We were snowed in for days. I don’t think that this storm will be as bad as that.”

Others just look forward to sitting back and enjoying the view -- without having to worry about wielding a shovel.

“Well, fortunately we live in a town-home. So, we don’t have to do too much shoveling,” Keith Thoreson said. “[It’s] kind of nice. I could look out the window and see if it’s done, right?”

Cheryl Thoreson knows her husband well:

“He’s happy about that,” she said.

Most of all, Haise emphasized safety over all else, during the inclement weather:

“[I’m} wishing all of my fellow Mankato and Minnesotans a safe week with this snow coming,” Haise said. “Watch those slippery spots.”

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