Inventories of Emergency Essentials Rushed to East Coast Sears and Kmart Stores as Hurricane Sandy Prepares to Make a Direct Hit

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Oct. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Sandy takes aim at the U.S. East Coast, inventories of hurricane survival and recovery essentials - portable generators, gasoline cans, chain saws and flash lights - are being rushed to Sears stores from North Carolina to Maine in anticipation of the "Frankenstorm", which is expected to make landfall by Sunday.

Hundreds of Sears and Kmart stores up and down the East Coast are being stocked with a range of portable generators so that residents have the emergency power they need to run refrigerators and freezers, simple cooking appliances like microwaves and small electric oven and lights. Basic household necessities require anywhere from 5,000 to 7,500 watts. Therefore, Sears recommends that when buying a generator, customers secure a unit large enough to deliver the power they need to remain comfortable and closely follow directions for proper ventilation. 

Though only a Category One hurricane, Sandy is still capable of producing more than a foot of rain and winds strong enough to topple trees and damage homes. Sears and Kmart are also stocking chain saws at East Coast stores to help customers manage a potentially major cleanup of damaged or downed trees.

Other items that Sears and Kmart stores have in stock include wrenches and pliers for turning off gas and water valves before the storm comes ashore, Craftsman wet/dry shop vacuums for cleanup, heavy-duty electrical extension cords, and several smaller basic items such as flash lights and spare batteries, battery-powered or hand-crank portable radios, or emergency weather (NOAA) radios along with a large assortment of workboots and gloves.

In order to expedite the preparations, customers are reminded that all Sears and Kmart stores offer Buy Online Pick Up in Store through both their websites and mobile apps.  In addition, items purchased online at Sears.com for in store pick up, will carry the Sears "Ready in 5" guarantee for SHOP YOUR WAY Members.  They will have their order Ready in 5 minutes after they scan their purchase receipt in the Pick Up areas.  Ready in 5 is a feature of SHOP YOUR WAY, the member-based program of Sears Holdings.  

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is a leading integrated retailer with over 2,600 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada and the home of ShopYourWay, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com.  Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, fitness equipment and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, with a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, the Kardashian Kollection, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as Sofia by Sofia Vergara and The Country Living Home Collection. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 15 million service and installation calls made annually and have a long-established commitment to those who serve in the military through initiatives like the Heroes at Home program. We have been named the 2011 Mobile Retailer of the Year, Recipient of the 2012 ENERGY STAR® "Corporate Commitment Award" for Product Retailing and Energy Management and one of the Top 20 Best Places to Work for Recent Grads. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation.  For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com. Twitter: @searsholdings | Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SHCCareers

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation