And don't anyone start on me with any "communism" BS.
You have to live through one of these disasters to fully appreciate and understand it.
The sad fact that you conveniently overlook is that people who have "lived through one of these disasters" are the least likely to need those goods in short supply.
Everybody in Florida is bombarded by all media sources at the beginning of the hurricane season about PREPARATION. Those that heed the advice and understand the risk, make the necessary preparations and have no reason to risk price "gouging" for essential emergency supplies.
Those that don't heed the advice, dismiss the risk, or are just plain too dumb to function in the real world, will have to seek out some kind soul like yourself to assist them. The unintended consequence is that those who are unprepared, but suffer limited or no pain, have learned nothing. I'd be willing to bet they are the same ones that will be back after the next hurricane.
So everybody in Florida with a brain has several weeks' worth of food, water, batteries, etc., buried somewhere in case a Category 4 or 5 hurricane comes along and destroys their entire home and everything inside it?
Forgive me if I don't believe that.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but I didn't overlook anything.
The majority of the year-round locals are of limited means and not in the position to stock up on anything, much less have a place to put it.
We are separated from the mainland by two bridges over the Rappahannock River on a two lane state road. It was closed for two days while they tried to clear it. Nothing was getting in or out of here.
We had about 2 days notice. Even then NOAA was dithering as to actual track.
The day it hit, we had the usual charlatans driving around trying to sell $400 gensets for $1,000, and $1.29 gal gasoline for $5.00. Not many takers.
The ones who "heeded the advice and understood the risk", as you say, were the rich white folks with the $1M+ riverfront houses and yachts that only come down on weekends anyway. NEWSFLASH: They didn't come down that weekend!
And, I'm not some kind soul that took pity on a bunch of people and gave things away for free. I opened and operated on a limited basis in difficult circumstances. I charged the same prices as I did the day before the storm. The 3 Food Lions within a 20 mile radius of us were all closed (hurricane, you know). Hells bells, it took the Ntl. Guard 5 days to get here with trucks full of ice and water.
And yes, they will be back after the next hurricane. You want to know why? Because I'll be open!!!