CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The windstorm hit Friday evening, June 29. Less than 96 hours later -- on Tuesday -- Cabela's had 230 generators for sale on the parking lot in front of its Southridge Centre store.

And on Thursday Cabela's had 230 more on its lot for sale.

(MORE: What to Do after the Storm)

How do some big companies react so fast?

Cabela's spokesman Joe Arterburn said, "We had a bunch of generators at our Wheeling Distribution Center."

Visitors to Cabela's giant retail store near Wheeling might not realize the company also has an enormous distribution center there.

The truckload of 230 generators that were put on sale at Southridge on Tuesday was from Wheeling, Arterburn said. "At the same time we launched a second truckload from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin," he said.

It was the Wisconsin truckload that went on sale at Southridge on Thursday.

In this particular situation, "it wasn't so much an emergency distribution plan -- it just kind of worked out that way," Arterburn said. However, "we've reacted like this in other natural disasters.

"We kind of have a standing 'Disaster Committee,' I guess you could call it," he said. "When something like this happens, we get started with phone conferences. The wheels can get turning fairly quickly."

In addition to generators, "batteries, flashlights and battery-operated lanterns are always high on the list, and sometimes bottled water," he said. "It depends on availability and the need in the area, too."

Home Depot declined to release sales figures but spokesman Stephen Holmes said, "We have moved generators to that area which we keep on hand at various distribution centers this time of year for hurricane response.

"In fact, we moved many products like water, long-handled tools, chain saws and other recovery items to stores in that area after the storms hit," he said.

Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse also responded to the storms by quickly stocking or re-stocking items that were in high demand. By mid-week Lowe's store at The Shops at Trace Fork off Corridor G had generators for sale, stacked in the aisle next to the kitchen appliances display.