By Kynedei Hobbs, Fox23 News
TULSA, Okla. — When severe weather hits, grocery stores often become ground zero, not just for preparation, but for panic.
This week’s winter storm tested Tulsa’s supply chains, store crews, and shoppers alike. From emptying shelves to icy roads slowing deliveries, local grocery stores worked behind the scenes to stay stocked and ready long after the first snowflake fell.
Store leaders say preparation began days before the storm arrived.
From early weather warnings to extra pallets of essential items, grocers across Tulsa planned ahead and stayed flexible to meet a surge in demand.
Before roads iced over and deliveries slowed, teams at Reasor’s were already watching the forecast closely.
“Early information is the first step,” said Greg Robinson with Reasor’s. “Our bread partners have to plan so far ahead for the bakeries to run to be able to get that product in. And bread is a staple that everybody buys.”
Even with some delayed deliveries and smaller crews once snow hit the ground, Robinson said steady inventory management and clear communication with vendors helped stores stay prepared for restocking.
“With the influx of business that we had on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, it was great to see our partners smiling and engaging with customers,” Robinson said. “The community was so welcoming and thankful that we were there and still had stock in the store.”
Across town, La Cosecha Supermercado faced similar challenges and some of the busiest shopping days of the year.
“Thursday and Friday were heavy days,” said store manager Elias Guillén. “We called some extra workers. Saturday was slower because it was really bad outside, so we had enough time to restart the store and get everything back to normal.”
Despite supply chain slowdowns, La Cosecha leaned on advance ordering and teamwork between locations, moving products where they were needed most to keep shelves stocked.
Guillén said once the storm passed, recovery happened faster than expected.
“With fewer customers on icy days, crews used that downtime to restock and reset,” he said. “Our sales on Thursday and Friday were higher than Christmas and New Year, actually, but we stayed afloat and didn’t run out of most products.”
Both stores say the biggest takeaway wasn’t just preparation, it was people.
From patient shoppers to thankful customers, store leaders say the community helped make long lines and busy days manageable, even when conditions were tough.
Grocery leaders say severe weather planning is something they revisit every year, learning from each storm and adjusting for the next.
Their message to shoppers is simple: plan early, shop smart, and stay safe.
Both stores also say they remain committed to staying open whenever conditions allow, because when restaurants close, grocery stores often become a community’s lifeline.
