People wouldn’t have to worry about price gouging during emergencies if they were properly prepared.
A little forethought when you live in hurricane country, or any where else where a natural disaster is likely, will go a long way.
If we were housebound because of snow or ice, we’d be OK for a few weeks. I always make sure we’re prepared before winter really sets in. Aside from the fact that I don’t like hauling groceries through slop, in the cold, I hate fighting the crowds, especially when the weather is starting to get nasty anyway.
Gougers and scalpers wouldn’t be a problem if people planned ahead. In some respects, like with natural disasters, if they aren’t prepared, it’s their own stupid fault.
Or, to look at the same argument a different way, if the people value the time saved by not thinking ahead, the scalper/gouger is providing a service they're fortunate to get when the goods are scarce and in high demand.