High Demand, Short Supply - WSET.com - ABC13

Reporter: Sally Delta

Lynchburg, VA - A lot of people are having a hard time finding what they need to get through this power outage. Stores are running out of everything from chainsaws to battery-powered fans.

We went out to see how people are managing. Of course, things could obviously be much better. A lot of people are staying upbeat, but quite a few I talked to are at their wits end. The shortage of gasoline and ice is simply too much for some to handle.

It's the same story from Madison Heights to Lynchburg and beyond. There are the quiet gas stations, and then there are these - lines of cars.

"It has been chaotic," said Shauna Davis, gas attendant at Kroger Gas on Timberlake Road.

"It's been hard, I mean. We've been traveling from one side of town to the other. A lot of places had sold out of gas," said Deronda Prettyman, who is without power.

But something else is in even higher demand. The main thing on your list is ice said Deronda Prettyman.

But ice is very hard to find.

"It's like everybody went crazy and ice went quick," said Prettyman.

As soon as the Kroger gas station on Timberlake stocked up, it was gone.

"It sold out within less than an hour," said Prettyman.

If you're one of those looking for ice, you're not going to find it at the Shell station on Timberlake. They ran out Sunday night and say they aren't sure when they're going to get another shipment," said Prettyman.

Prettyman says ice is essential in saving any of the food she has left. She says she can't afford for it all to go bad.

"I mean that's a lot of money down the drain especially for folks that don't have a lot of money," said Prettyman.

But Prettyman and many others are trying to keep their cool in this very sticky situation.

"We need the power back on. We're very stressed out.  I think everybody is at this point so we all need to pray for everybody," said Lorri Buchanan, without power.

There's also a shortage of generators. Lowe's and Sears are all out and none of them are sure when another shipment will come in. True Value has some and is getting shipments every day.