Flashlights, batteries, sump pumps and generators have been flying off the shelves of local hardware stores as residents are preparing for Hurricane Sandy, which experts say may hit N.J. Monday.

“The phones have been going crazy for the past few days, and everybody wants to know about generators,” Sharon VanCisco-Boccadoro of the Mahwah Home Depot said. As of Thursday night, the store had sold out of generators. All other Home Depots in the region were also sold out Friday morning, she said.

“We are expecting an emergency shipment of generators, but we’re not sure when that will get here,” she said. When they do come in, they will be sold on a first-come, first serve basis. No rain checks are being given out, and locals are encouraged to call to check on availability.

At Ramsey Hardware, owner Mark Gatto said there were a few small generators left Friday morning. But, the store was expecting a shipment of 70 additional generators sometime Friday afternoon.

“It’s been lines of people, so busy in here,” Gatto said. “All of the generators we’re expecting will go.”

Both stores are stocking other items homeowners may be looking for to get ready for Sandy.

Ramsey Hardware has been selling indoor/outdoor vacuums, sump pumps, flashlights and batteries.

Home Depot’s center aisle is filled with storm-preparation materials – flashlights, batteries, garden hoses, extension cords, dry/wet vacuums, sump pumps, tarps, tape, bleach, large garbage bags, rain gutter spouts, fans, hydraulic cement leak stoppers and bottle of water.

The store is also offering free estimates on installed generators, which VanCisco-Boccadoro said are more costly than portable generators, but go on automatically. “They wouldn’t be installed in time for this storm, but it’s definitely a proactive thing to do for future storms. We are currently taking names for that,” she said.

With memories of last year's Hurricane Irene in the not-too-distant past, dozens of local residents were in both stores Friday afternoon, picking up items to prepare for the storm.

Laura Kasprzak, a Ramsey resident, was shopping for gutter spouts, flashlights and batteries at the Mahwah Home Depot.

“I get a flashlight for each one of my kids, and stuff for my elderly neighbor,” Kasprzak, who was living in North Carolina during Hurricane Floyd, said. “And, the main thing for me is to keep the water as far away from my house as possible. I think I got the last two gutter spouts, so I was happy about that.”

Gov. Chris Christie released a call for residents to prepare for the storm. See the state recommendations and resources here.

Are you shopping somewhere else to prepare for Hurricane Sandy? Let your neighbors know who has what in the comments.