Aug. 27 2011 , 2011 -- Hurricane Irene prompted people across the Northeast to stock up on food and survival items, flooding super markets and chain retailers like Walmart and Home Depot.

"Over the course of their experience with hurricanes, Walmart has learned that Strawberry Pop-Tarts are one of the most purchased food items, especially after storms, as they require no heating, can be used at any meal, and last forever," Steve Horwitz, an economist at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., who studied Walmart's response to Hurricane Katrina, told ABC News.

These are the top items that people stock up on before hurricanes hit, Horwitz says:

1. Non-perishable food that can be eaten easily and without heat, such as Pop-Tarts and bread

2. Bottled water

3. Bleach, mops and other cleaning supplies

4. Flashlights/candles etc.

5. First-aid supplies

6. Generators

7. Batteries

8. Ice

Click here to read more about preparing for a hurricane.