Bermuda residents were streaming through grocery stores and service stations on Friday in search of ice, batteries, fresh water and - in many cases - breakfast.

"We sold out for breakfast," said Tredick Gorham at the Supermart. "People didn't have any power, so they couldn't cook breakfast at home."

Service stations were often the first stop for those who woke to find they could not cook or shower or even listen to the radio to hear what the situation was around the Island.

"We're being run off our feet for anything and everything," said Jane Smith at Port Royal Service station. "We've got batteries coming out the ying yang. People want water, chips, fast foods because they can't cook. It's chaos."

Cruise ship passengers snapped up all the local papers yesterday morning at St. George's Esso, manager Irvin Hayward told The Royal Gazette, starting when it opened its doors at 7 a.m.

But the service station was without power until 2 p.m. which limited other sales. "It's been crazy ever since we got it back on though," Mr. Hayward said.

At Robinson's Marina in Somerset, manager Malcolm Swan said there had been quite a rush on ice and people were still coming in looking for news late in the day although the papers were snatched from the shelves by early morning.

Robinson's boom was partly due to the fact that the local competition - Sandys Esso - lost its power, he added.

Yesterday afternoon, an Esso spokesman said the station still lacked power and, while they were open, they weren't selling any gas.

But as the service stations scrambled, supermarkets found they had somewhat missed out on the bustle.

Supermarkets usually experience a rush in an advance of a storm, Mr. Gorham said, but the surprise nature of Thursday's gale meant shoppers didn't prepare and bunker down as they normally would when given warning.

"We didn't know this one was coming and now the storm is over," he said.

Sales of prepared foods at grocers were booming as tens of thousands of homes still lacked power and people went in search of a hot breakfast or lunch.

But Mr. Gorham said he expected people wouldn't want to buy their weekly groceries until they were sure they could use their fridges, freezers and ovens.

Lindo's general manager William Moniz reported that his stores had seen a little "mini panic" yesterday.

"There are a lot of people coming through for fresh water, ice and batteries," he said.

And with Island schools closed for the day, a lot of families were traipsing through Lindo's stocking up on items to keep the kids happy, The Royal Gazette was told.

At MarketPlace, vice-president Scott Carswell said that business was steady on yesterday morning but not unusually high.

Mr. Carswell said while many Island homes remained without power, MarketPlace stores were not selling a great deal of charcoal or ice. "It's pretty much normal Friday traffic," he said.

Gary White of White & Sons said, while there had been a "marginal" increase in sales of essentials and a breakfast boom, by early afternoon the stores settled down.

"People are starting to get their power back on now," said Mr. White. "Everything is going back to normal."