Wareham's hardware stores have seen a rush on certain items by residents who are stocking up on emergency supplies in anticipation of a blizzard that could drop up to two feet of snow on Wareham.

“We’ve already sold out of five gallon gas cans,” said Kevin Simoneau who works at Ace Hardware in Onset Center.

Simoneau said that supplies like shovels, ice melt, batteries, flashlights, and lamp oil have also been flying off the shelves.

For everybody preparing for the storm in advance, there are always a few stubborn, old-school New Englanders who prefer to wait until the storm shows what it’s made of before they run to the store.

“There’re always people who wait until there’s a foot of snow on the ground to go out and get a shovel,” said Simoneau.

Aubuchon Hardware on Marion Road was bustling on Friday with customers stocking up for the impending tempest.

“Basic stuff, just getting food, water, batteries…Especially since they keep comparing it to the blizzard of ’78,” said customer Crystal Andrade.

Customer Tianxu Zhou said that he was getting a cover for his grill so he’ll have an alternate way to cook if the power goes out as expected. “I’m trying to get enough [gas] for the car and the grill,” he said.

Cashier Tim Liffers says that he too expects there to be some people who aren’t taking the blizzard quite so seriously – yet.

“There’ll be a few [people] in here tomorrow.”

By noon Friday, snow had already begun accumulating and the National Weather Service is predicting 18-24 inches of snow over the course of today and tomorrow.

Governor Deval Patrick has declared a state of emergency, and has banned road travel beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, until further notice. Public safety workers, municipal maintenance workers, government officials conducting official business, healthcare workers, utility workers, members of the news media, and others are exempt from the ban. For more information, click here.

How are you preparing for the storm? Do you have any storm photos you’d like us to put on the site? Let us know! Send photos to caitlin@warehamweek.com, or jaime@warehamweek.com.