My son who lives in Guaynabo and has a small electrical and renovation/construction business told me immediately after the storm, there was a total lack of baking soda which he, and many others, needed to deodorize refrigerators after the food spoiled from no electricity. He was cleaning up absentee owners’ condos. Since then he has reported a serious shortage of basic electrical parts at Home Depot and elsewhere. So I agree, who is making stupid or criminal decisions. He also said that Home Depot or other major stores seem to be operating on a standard plan for distribution to all stores. He said another ludicrous item was large shipments of winter coats, for the tropics?!?!
You would think Home Depot and other big box stores would be operating under emergency planning conditions. They’ve been thru this stuff repeatedly. I remember Lowe’s being open the day after Hugo hit..no power, cash only...but they were open. Within a couple of days, they were selling generators out of the back of multiple semi’s. Don’t remember if HD was open here or not back then. If there was one, they were probably selling like crazy too.
Maybe your son’s HD is having trouble getting stuff from the docks to the store. I’ve heard the trucking system has been unreliable. Regardless, it sounds like this would be a money-making event for HD.