HARLEM — As the first snowflakes began to fall Friday, most Harlem residents began making plans to hunker down.
Maurice Sanders, 28, a caseworker, walked from the Pathmark at 145th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard with his hood over his head and three bags of groceries.
"I've got Vitamin Water, rice, some cold cuts," said Sanders as he recounted his haul from the supermarket. "I'm staying inside today."
The supermarket was crowded with likeminded people.
"I waited until the last minute. Everyone else probably got their things yesterday," said Sanders.
The storm is expected to bring at least 10 inches of snow and wind gusts of 45 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
For Sanders, that means a day of video games and watching movies.
"I think it's going to be bad," said Sanders.
The wintry mix falling on Sanders as he walked home is expected to turn to snow by 3 p.m..
Elsewhere, building supers spread salt and pushed the slushy snow off the sidewalk.
Gladstone Simpson, 65, a restaurant worker, was riding his bike in the storm. He said the pavement wasn't too slippery yet.
"I expect a lot of snow," said Simpson. "I don't know if my work will be open."
The storm is expected to pick up by rush hour, with the worst starting at 10 p.m.
Simpson said he normally rides everywhere on his bike but will put it away and take to foot and public transportation as the storm worsens.
Even if the storm is not as bad as predicted, Sanders said at least he'll be prepared.
"It's better to be safe than sorry, " he said.
