As Hurricane Dolly came ashore in southern Texas yesterday as a category two storm, regional grocer H.E. Butt Grocery Co. offered its emergency preparedness hotline to employees, customers, and vendors-and closed a dozen stores in the region yesterday morning as a precaution.

However, as of yesterday afternoon, the San Antonio-based company said expected to be able to reopen most of its stores in Brownsville and the surrounding area by the evening.

At least two additional stores were expected to reopen today.

Meanwhile, local press reports said business was up at HEB in the days leading up to the hurricane's arrival. HEB officials said the company had a warehouse full of hurricane emergency supplies, and had made sure its stores' gas pumps were full.