More Than 200 Complaints of Price Gouging as Floridians Evacuate Before Hurricane Milton
Florida’s Attorney General’s Office has noted over 200 reports of price gouging as residents make preparations to evacuate due to Hurricane Milton.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has reported receiving more than 200 price gouging allegations as thousands of residents get ready to leave due to Hurricane Milton.
As of Monday, most of the complaints have been related to fuel and water, according to Moody’s spokesperson, Kylie Mason. The counties with the highest number of complaints are Highlands, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. Some complaints also include exorbitant rates for lodging, with one Airbnb listing charging nearly $6,000 per night for a “room in Tallahassee.”
“Our team has already contacted our (Airbnb) corporate representative and located the property owner,” Mason stated. “We’re sharing a copy of the price gouging laws and informing them about their legal obligations.”
Moody has activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline, which was also in place for Hurricane Helene and now for Milton. The storm regained its Category 5 status on Tuesday as it moved through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, prompting millions to finalize evacuation plans.
The National Hurricane Center has warned that damaging winds, dangerous storm surges, and heavy rains will impact areas far beyond the storm’s projected path. Warning maps indicate red and orange alerts covering much of Florida.
Florida’s Price Gouging Law Addresses Various Needs
Florida law prohibits price gouging on essential items like food, gasoline, lodging, equipment, ice, lumber, and water during declared states of emergency due to a storm, as stated by the Attorney General’s Office.
Those found guilty of violating this law face penalties including fines of $1,000 for each incident and up to $25,000 for multiple violations occurring within a 24-hour timeframe. Following Hurricane Helene, over 450 price gouging complaints were reported, primarily concerning fuel in Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties, which faced severe flooding shortly before the hurricane made landfall.
Tips to Avoid Scams
- Check that repairs will be covered by insurance and have an insurance assessment performed before proceeding with any repairs.
- Acquire three detailed, written estimates for repairs.
- Avoid paying the entire repair fee upfront and be skeptical of large deposit requests.
