Florida’s Attorney General is currently looking into over 160 instances of price gouging following the havoc caused by two hurricanes.
Ashley Moody’s team has received a surge of complaints about inflated prices as some businesses seem to be exploiting residents’ desperation. The team is actively visiting affected areas to gather more information, according to WFLA TV.
Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties—located in southwest Florida—have reported the most significant price increases after Hurricane Helene. Tampa is in Hillsborough, while Saint Petersburg is in Pinellas.
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Pinellas County’s consumer protection investigator, Anna Maria Fiallos, commented, “During disasters, it’s unfortunate that some will try to take advantage of the situation. We rely on the community to report any suspicious activity so we can step in.”
At a recent briefing with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris assured that the federal government would take action against businesses exploiting victims of the hurricanes.
“To any company or individual thinking of taking advantage of this crisis, we are watching and anyone caught engaging in these behaviors will face consequences,” she stated.
Hurricane Milton, which made landfall on Wednesday, resulted in over a dozen fatalities, leaving nearly two million Floridians without power as of Friday. Hurricane Helene claimed about 230 lives in late September.
In response to allegations of inflated airfares during the evacuations, United Airlines firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating that a viral photo circulating online was incorrect. “We capped Florida fares on Sunday, and since then, prices for one-way economy tickets have remained below $500,” the airline told Forbes. They also added 18 extra flights to and from Florida.
According to Alan Rubin, the co-head of the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Team at the Blank Rome law firm, stated that businesses are prohibited from raising prices for essential services like roof repairs or debris removal following a hurricane.
He emphasized the existence of standard pricing for these services, which is set in place to protect consumers. “Price gouging is an unacceptable practice that state and local authorities will not tolerate,” he added.
Rubin also mentioned that attorneys general in states affected by natural disasters typically issue warnings about price gouging following such events, ensuring consumers are protected.
“Before a disaster, all state offices must ensure that prices remain consistent and fair,” he concluded.