Isabel ensures demand

The DIY stores on the East Coast of America are registering heightened demand for certain materials and supplies as the residents in the region prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Isabel. The Sears retail chain has announced that it is sending supplementary deliveries to the stores in the affected regions and to its regional distribution centre in Pennsylvania. Demand is concentrated on generators, pumps, batteries and flashlights in particular, as well as dehumidifiers, chainsaws and other tools, plus weatherproof clothing. The hurricane, which is described as a “monster storm”, is expected to hit the American mainland between North Carolina and New Jersey on Thursday afternoon (local time), bringing with it torrential rainfall.