As thousand of people in Southwest Florida rush to secure their homes ahead of Hurricane Irma, plywood is a hot commodity, and many stores are having a hard time keeping it in stock.
"They're coming in to get everything from wall paneling, fence paneling," said A.J. Olsen, assistant manager at the Home Depot at Pine Ridge and Airport-Pulling Roads in Naples. "They're pretty much getting whatever they think will work."
At around noon on Wednesday, Larry Falisi of Naples said he had been waiting in a long line at the store since 6:45 a.m. to get plywood.
"One truck came and that had maybe 100 pieces on it, and that went out right away," Falisi said. "I believe they're (allowing) ten pieces a person."
Tom Burge bought several large wood fence panels to board up his daughter's windows.
"I saw a couple of other people taking it out," Burge said. "It's solid wood, it looks treated. She has odd-sized windows in her house, and I can cut it up to fit."
Local storm shutter companies say while most storm shutters are custom-built, they're selling many parts to secure them.
"Like the wing nuts and the F-track bolts," said Debbie Bozzi of Town and Country Industries in Naples. "Whatever comes in already promised, sold out to somebody."
Olsen said his store had about 50 generators when they opened Wednesday morning, and that after opening at 6:00 a.m., they were all sold within minutes.
