ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – With another snowstorm looming, a determined customer from North Carolina ventured into Tennessee on a quest for road salt, hoping to prepare for the wintry weather ahead.

Cory Boone, who hails from North Carolina, made a stop at Liberty Hardware on Thursday. His mission was to find road salt to deal with the remnants of last weekend’s snow and brace for the upcoming storm forecasted for this weekend.

In an interview with News Channel 11, Boone recounted his journey across Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia in search of the elusive road salt, only to find empty shelves at every hardware store he visited. His persistence paid off when he discovered 11 bags of road salt still in stock at Liberty Hardware, which he promptly purchased.

“There’s a national shortage of salt; I’ve been everywhere trying to find it,” Boone explained. “I was able to find it here at this Liberty Hardware store. I’ve checked other stores in Tennessee, but as soon as they restock, it disappears fast. I’ve also searched in Virginia and West Virginia, but the shortage is widespread, and it’s nearly impossible to find.”

Boone emphasized his urgency to secure any available salt before the next snowfall arrives.

“They just don’t seem to last, and then there’s another storm coming this weekend so, trying to get up what’s already on the ground before the other comes has been the issue,” Boone said.

Tracy Foster, Liberty Hardware Manager, told News Channel 11 that she has seen many customers in need of heaters, lamp oil, propane, ice melt and road salt.

Foster said the store ran out of items last week before the first winter storm hit as people began to prepare. With a second round of snow, items such as lamp oil and portable heaters are now out of stock.

“We got a shipment of those yesterday, but as soon as they came in, people were waiting on them, bought them and went right out the door with them,” Foster said. “A tremendous amount of people have been coming in to get extra propane tanks filled.”

Though people are buying items quickly, Foster said more shipments are on the way. Propane, a popular commodity, is shipped daily by two to three trucks.

Items still in stock that Foster advised are useful for winter weather include propane heaters, snow shovels, ice melt and faucet covers.