Businesses say they prepared themselves for the worst despite meteorologists reporting the weekend's snow storm wouldn't be as severe as expected.

Employees at a discount store on Avenue L in Canarsie say they're stocked with salt and shovels. They say those items sold at a rapid pace Saturday. They also say they ordered two to three times as many umbrellas.

Residents said they didn't want to wait until the last minute before the wintry mix turns to ice.

Officials recommended spreading salt periodically to prevent dangerous slips and falls.