By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Senior National
Correspondent
As Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida with devastating force and recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene stagnate, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, issued a stern warning to those seeking to profit off Americans in crisis. “Americans impacted by a crisis should never be ripped off,” Harris said, condemning price gouging and fraud.
“Those evacuating before Hurricane Milton or recovering from Hurricane Helene should not be subject to illegal price gouging or fraud – at the pump, airport, or hotel counter,” Harris demanded.
Hurricane Milton, now a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph, is expected to land between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Thursday. The National Hurricane Center has urged Floridians to complete all protective measures immediately, as storm surge warnings are in effect along nearly the entire western coast. Tampa to Fort Myers could face storm surges of up to 15 feet, while the Orlando area is bracing for up to 15 inches of rain and a severe flooding threat.
President Joe Biden, who called the storm potentially “one of the worst storms in 100 years in Florida,” urged residents in its path to evacuate immediately, stressing, “It’s a matter of life and death, and that’s not hyperbole,” the president stated. He assured Floridians of the federal government’s full support, offering direct assistance to state officials, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.
In a blunt message to those sticking around Tampa, Castor has told residents that they have two choices: flee or die.
Biden also tackled misinformation circulating about federal disaster aid, cautioning that false information can exacerbate fears. “It puts people in circumstances where they panic, where they really, really, really worry. They think, ‘Now we’re not being taken care of,’” he said. FEMA has mobilized 1,200 search and rescue personnel across the Southeast, while tornado watches cover much of southern Florida, with sightings already reported.
Drawing on her background as California’s Attorney General and a U.S. Senator, Harris spoke fiercely of her resolve to combat exploitation during emergencies.
“I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of price gouging during an emergency,” she noted. “As Attorney General of California during devastating wildfires that displaced thousands of residents, I took on those attempting to take advantage of the situation by raising hotel prices. As Senator, I worked to stop price gouging during the pandemic.”
She concluded: “Any company or individual that tries to exploit Americans in an emergency should know that the Administration is monitoring for allegations of fraud and price gouging and will hold those taking advantage of the situation accountable.”
