MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Autumn is the perfect time to bring out the pumpkins and dress your house in halloween decorations. It is also the time of year to think about how you are going to prepare your home for the winter. 

The polar vortex is long gone but businesses are still carrying its burden. It not only caused delays for the agricultural industry, home depot sold more winter equipment than it was prepared to sell. The store is expecting a rock salt shortage this year as a result.

"Its not just home depot its nationally," said Katherine Hanna, Associate Support Department Supervisor for Home Depot in Okemos. "We had such a long winter last year that the time that they usually prep to catch up and bag the rock salt or the ice melter. They didn't have that time because they were still selling it and it was flying off the shelves. So this year, they don't have as many bags to send out."

Braen Supply, a landscaping supply company, says unexpected weather patterns are one of the leading causes one of the leading causes behind rock salt shortages. Especially if they are caused by prolong winters such as last winter. This year both the supply company and Home Depot are advising their customers to stock up on salt before cold temperatures hit. 

"We're talking to our customers already saying 'hey if you're going to get it, you might as well get it now,'" Hanna said. "If you usually buy ten bags, you might as well just buy ten bags now otherwise you're not going to be able to get it."

Since rock salt supply is low and demand is high, the price for one bag of salt is nearly twice as much as last year. One alternative Home Depot is offering is play sand which can create traction, and reduce slipperiness. If the weather is too cold however, the sand can freeze together and become part of the ice, requiring constant re-application.