Rapid City businesses share important advice for winter storm preparations
RAPID CITY, S.D.– As another winter storm inches closer, some Rapid City businesses are sharing some advice on what to do in order to make sure residents are better prepared. From medicines to automobiles and even entertainment, here is what they had to say.
The Medicine Shoppe
At the Medicine Shoppe in Rapid City, employees are usually well-prepared for snowstorms and take many steps in making sure residents have their prescriptions refilled ahead of time. Thanks to an automated system, residents are alerted when they need to get the next rounds ready.
“We try to look at, look ahead and order extra medications for these long snowstorms like this,” Pharmacist Curtis Rising explained.
However, even with the system in effect, Rising and the rest of the team running the pharmacy still advise checking how much medication you have on hand before things worsen.
“I would encourage people to look right now and make sure that they have at least a week’s supply of their medication,” he said. “If they don’t, we can get that or their pharmacy can get that, and get that to them as soon as possible.”
Timmons Market
According to the Rapid City Store Manager Tristin Dollison, people usually flood the store in the days leading up to a major storm, and then the store is silent until things clear up. Early Monday afternoon, people were already purchasing food in bulk and looking for shelf-stable products.
In anticipation of the possibility that roads could be blocked off throughout the area and the state, Dollison has delayed a truck transporting supplies to Friday as a way of hopefully preventing stranded drivers and loss of products. Trucks usually come in on Mondays and Thursdays, he adds.
Photos from Rapid City businesses preparing for the winter storm
Belly Brothers Auto Tech
Shop manager Jason focused on multiple aspects for preparing your car including visibility, engine coolant and tire pressure. Tire pressure, he says, usually varies from car to car and can be found on the inside of the driver’s seat door. Why is it important to make sure your tires are inflated to the right PSI amount?
“Traction. Definitely traction,” he explained. You want all your tires basically on the road.”
As for visibility, he says to make sure that your lights are in proper working order to see through the snowy conditions. And for windshields on cars, make sure the wiper fluid has de-icing properties to keep the glass clean while driving. As for engine coolant, keep the fluid at around -35 degrees to keep the car running and safe from engine damage.
“That way your engine runs good, nothing freezes,” he said. “That way your engine runs properly.”
Who’s Toy Shop and Hobby House
Since the next few days may see people staying inside, including families with children, the winter storm may be a good time to start a new project. Who’s Toy Shop and Hobby House has a wide variety of choices — including models and science kits.
However, owner Clancy Kingsbury says the key is to keep skill levels in mind while looking at all of the options, especially for kids.
“It is good to make sure that you’re not buying something that your child is going to get frustrated with, is a little too difficult. You are always better off to start with something a little bit easier that they’re going to complete. And then if it is too easy, well then step them up. But we always try to gauge which level is the best.”
