[PapaBear3625]

Businesses who get up and running fast to supply people’s needs and are businesses that gain in huge respect and loyality from customers. They are seen as local heros. Businesses price gouging people will experience the opposite effect - forever.

Right. So if the cost of getting back up (cost of generator to run pumps until utilities are back up, plus premium to truck driver to navigate tree-strewn street) exceeds the expected net revenue, the incentive is to just hang up a "CLOSED" sign for the week and take some time off.

[SaraJohnson]

Having lived in hurricane lands of Texas and Florida, sometimes businesses do not come back and are replaced by newbies. Some residences don’t come back and are razed. A lot recover.

If you lack insurance, you are in trouble. If you have union thugs blocking out of Sate electric workers and other tradesmen you need for recovery, you will suffer longer with no power and amid ruins. That means more businesses and residences won’t recover.

None of this has anything to do with price gouging.