HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Aug. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sears stores throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast are serving the communities and helping customers prepare for Hurricane Irene. According to store managers and associates in the field, shoppers are stocking up on preparedness supplies including generators, flashlights and batteries and are also seeking out charcoal and charcoal grills, as well as clean-up items like chainsaws, rakes, drills and wet/dry vacuums. Many Sears stores throughout the region have replenished stocks of items in high demand like generators and gas cans. However, the company recommends customers call in advance to ensure product availability, or take advantage of the Personal Shopper App at Sears.com, which can assist in locating and shipping in-demand products and necessities.

"We are committed to helping our customers and communities and to doing what is needed to help people stay safe," said Deidra Cheeks Merriwether, SVP and president, Retail Services for Sears Holdings Management Corporation. "We want to make sure our customers have the tools they need to protect their families and their homes."

When preparing for any storm, Sears recommends customers take steps to prepare. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website, www.Ready.gov, the most important steps for hurricane preparedness are:


      1) Prepare a kit or "To Go" bag. Pack
       this bag with essential items such
       as nonperishable food,
       prescriptions, water, batteries and
       a flashlight.

      2) Make a plan. Ready your family,
       home and business by boarding up
       windows and doors; consider
       purchasing a generator and clean-up
       supplies.

      To assist customers with their
       planning, Sears can provide:
      -- Craftsman tools to storm-proof
       and clean up homes (wet/dry shop
       vacuums, drills, etc.)
      --Backup generators, as well as
       advice on how to specifically
       determine the size and strength
       appropriate for your space, best
       safety practices and tips on proper
       use
      --Essentials for families who choose
       not to evacuate for the storm
       (flashlights, batteries, coolers and
       water)
      --Safeguards for personal records
       and files (external hard drives and
       surge protectors)

      3) Stay informed.

If circumstances warrant, Sears will provide discounts in areas impacted by Hurricane Irene to assist customers in dealing with the storm's aftermath. Based on the storm's path, the company will release offers in affected states from 10 to 20 percent off select products from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2011.

For more information or to locate a Sears store near you, visit Sears.com/storelocator.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,700 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes over 890 full-line and more than 1,350 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck is the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at www.sears.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.


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SOURCE Sears, Roebuck and Co.