CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — When severe weather hits the Coastal Bend, people rush to get food, water, and generators, since no one knows how long or how much of an impact the bad weather will have.
Local grocery stores sometimes order a little extra to make up for the unexpected rush, but at two local IGA stores, it was business as usual.
At the Port Aransas Family Center on Alister, though, manager Melinda Moore said she didn’t see the need to order any extra supplies in anticipation of this weekend's cold temperatures.
But she did order something special: She ordered flowers. Because even though it’ll be near-freezing outside, few things warm the heart like flowers for that special someone on Valentine's Day, which is Sunday.
Or perhaps a glass of wine after Valentine's Day dinner?
Longtime Port Aransas resident Cathy Joslin braved the cold temperatures on Thursday to make sure her 89-year-old mother didn’t have to.
"We need to take care of the elderly and the people that are in our neighborhood that are not used to this kind of weather," she said.
Manager Tammy Smith at the new Island Market on Padre Island's Park Road 22 also said it’s business as usual.
Her main concern is for her employees and their safety, coming to work and going home.
"Especially coming over the bridge," she said. "The ice. We don’t want our employees driving back that way."
Naomi Hamilton was really looking forward to getting out, but not anymore. It's too cold, she said.
"Nothing like this has ever. . . not this long a time," she said. "We’re bracing for tomorrow all the way thru next week."
Winter Texans, however, say this weather is at least better than what they get where they’re from.
"I’m from Michigan and used to the cold weather," she said. "For Winter Texans, is this a big deal? Not to me."
