Just as the winds will speed up for Hurricane Gustav, so will the rush to get hurricane supplies at the supermarkets and other food stores.

When the STAR visited Super Food Store on Half-Way Tree Road, it was not packed with customers getting last-minute supplies. However, Richard Chen, manager of the branch, said many customers have been visiting the store to get their supplies, especially in the morning.

"There is a rush for hurricane supplies. I expect it to continue for the next couple of days. If it is going to affect us negatively, I think more people will be buying," Chen told The STAR.

Like Chen, Howard Swaby, manager of the Shoppers Fair Supermarket in Liguanea, said the store was busy as early as 10 a.m. He said people have been buying can foods, tissue, batteries, flashlights, biscuits and bulk packages of rice, flour and sugar.

However, in downtown Kingston the people were in no rush to get hurricane supplies. Instead, they were busy buying school supplies.