There’s a difference between making a profit and taking advantage of desperate people. People were selling cases of water down here for $40.
You are by definition taking advantage of people when you sell them anything at sufficient price to make you a profit. They are taking advantage of you when they get what they want from you. If water can be sold at $40then people from outside the area will be rushing in to sell water. The “unconscionable” high prices get the supplies to the affected area much faster and the supplies drop in price as the supply increases because all those greedy bastards are rushing water to the zone to get those high prices.
I can buy a 40 bottle case of water at Sam's Club for $3.99 but at a baseball game that same bottle is $3.00 or $120 a case.
Is that gouging?
Before the storm hit, why didn't people fill up containers with tap water?
People don't plan, and then want gummint protection, price protection, health care protection.
If $40 a case is too expensive, don't buy it, I'm sure that some bleeding heart liberal will be glad to share their water.