As Hurricane Milton approaches the United States, with winds of up to 250 km/h, supermarkets in Florida are facing a supply shortage due to panic buying by many of their customers.
Publix, Walmart, Sam's Club, and other large companies have unexpectedly run out of bottled water. Toilet paper and bread are other products that people have bought until the shelves are empty.
The TikTok profiles Nury Calvo (@nurycalvosn) and Familia Obrien (@familiaobrien) showcased their visits to supermarkets in Florida in search of water bottles and shared images that demonstrate the surprising shortage.
Ice is also in high demand in Florida supermarkets these days. People are preparing for possible power outages, and their freezers filled with ice can keep meats and dairy products cold.
Other products, such as soft drinks, beers, juices, smoothies, and yogurts, remain available on the shelves. Consumers prioritize essential items like drinking water and the "mysterious case" of toilet paper, which seems to be a key item for facing the uncertainty of the storm.
The situation is repeating in several stores, with empty shelves and long lines of customers trying to stock up before the arrival of the hurricane.
Hurricane Milton reached category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale on Monday afternoon. During the night, it dropped to category 4 but still maintains winds of 250 km/h and poses a threat to the west coast of Florida, which is still recovering from the severe impacts left by Hurricane Helene.
Residents of the area fear the impact of Milton, which could be potentially deadly, causing flooding and prolonged power outages, leading to a rush for basic supplies to endure with family, either staying at home or in safe areas, over the coming days.
The preparations reflect the growing tension in Florida ahead of the imminent arrival of Milton expected this Wednesday.
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled under:
