READ THIS NEXT: These Popular Grocery Chains Are Closing Stores, Starting Nov. 11. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb In the early morning of Sept. 28, Hurricane Ian made its first landfall in the U.S. as it came ashore between Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida. Weather reports showed that the storm was just below Category 5 status, bringing heavy rain and maximum sustained winds of up to 155 miles per hour, according to The New York Times. The storm devastated Cuba yesterday, knocking out electricity across the entire island and killing two people. Officials have spent the last few days preparing for the storm’s arrival. Airports in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Orlando grounded all of their flights and closed as the storm approached. And on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded evacuation orders for more than 2 million people in vulnerable areas along the coast, The Washington Post reports. “This is a lot of nasty weather that we’re in store for over the next few days,” DeSantis said during a Tuesday press conference. As residents prepare for the worst and hope for the best, businesses in the storm’s path are also making changes in anticipation of its arrival—including grocery stores. In a Sept. 27 news release, Publix announced that it would be changing operating hours and closing certain locations in Florida. “Please keep in mind, hours may be adjusted, and the status of individual stores is subject to change based on Hurricane Ian’s track and projected impacts. As always, our priority remains on the safety of our associates, customers, and communities,” Hannah Herring, a company spokesperson, said in an emailed statement received by the Orlando Sentinel. According to the company, some stores were expected to close as early as 3 p.m. on Tuesday, while others would close by 4 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. The locations are expected to remain closed on Thursday, Sept. 29. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. To help keep customers informed, Publix has launched a page tracking the storm and posting any scheduled changes to opening hours at specific locations. As of Sept. 28, a total of 455 locations will be affected, according to the supermarket chain’s website. The closures are predominantly affecting counties across Central Florida. They include Sumter, Orange, Citrus, Seminole, Marion, Osceola, and Volusia, local Orlando Fox affiliate WOFL reports. Two locations in Lake county are also affected, listed as 717 N 14th Street in Leesburg and 1120 Bichara Boulevard in The Villages. Other affected counties in the Tampa area include Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk, local Fox affiliate WTVT reports. According to Publix, many of the closed stores are expected to reopen by 7 a.m. on Sept. 30. However, customers can find the most up-to-date information on the designated storm tracking page, per a tweet from the company. Of course, Publix isn’t the only grocery store shutting down due to the extreme weather. Winn-Dixie also announced it would close dozens of its locations across the state in anticipation of the storm’s arrival on Wednesday. The supermarket chain provided a complete list of temporarily shuttered stores and said it would update it regularly throughout the day. The closures could make it difficult for anyone left behind in the storm’s path. In an early morning press conference on Sept. 28, DeSantis warned that people in certain areas who had chosen to stay put during the storm should no longer attempt to flee. “It’s no longer possible to safely evacuate,” he warned, per The New York Post. “It’s time to hunker down and prepare for this storm. Do what you need to do to stay safe. If you are where that storm is approaching, you’re already in hazardous conditions. It’s going to get a lot worse very quickly. So please hunker down,” he advised.
