Bermudians rushed to pick up emergency supplies yesterday as news of Hurricane Nate?s arrival spread.

Hardware store Gorham?s was busy with people stocking up on supplies. General Manager Andrew Mackay said that many people were buying jerry cans, batteries and tarpaulins to prepare for the hurricane.

Masters Limited also saw batteries, propane and rope flying off the shelves. General Manager Mark Stearns said the store was surprisingly busy and that business was ?fast and furious?.

He said that because of Hurricane Fabian ? Bermuda?s last major hurricane ? and the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans last week, many people were making sure they were fully prepared for Nate.

For people who haven?t started preparing, there is still time today. The first step is to check your emergency kit to establish what you don?t have. Ensure that you have a working flashlight, battery operated FM radio (the emergency broadcast frequency is FM 100.1 MZ), lanterns and a propane stove . It?s also vital to have extra batteries and propane on hand.

A fully stocked first aid kit and fire extinguisher are also important items to have. It?s useful to have an ice chest, garbage bags, toilet paper, rope, buckets, a two week supply of prescriptions and a list of emergency phone numbers.

In case the hurricane causes power outages it is essential to have a two-week supply of non-perishable food and plenty of water. Canned food, dried fruit, raw vegetables, bread, crackers and peanut butter are some items that do not need to be refrigerated.

It?s crucial to secure your house before a hurricane by boarding up windows and bringing lawn furniture inside. It?s also a good idea to check your insurance coverage and cut down any tree branches that could take down a power line.

If the hurricane hits, it?s a good idea to unplug appliances and electronic equipment. It is also recommended that you shut off valves on gas tanks and cylinders. Power outages can be reported to Belco by calling 955.

For people experiencing their first hurricane, one local tip is to fill your bath tubs and sinks with water before the hurricane arrives and have a bucket handy so that you can flush toilets should the electricity go out.