The Florida Attorney General, James Uthmeier, activated the official form to report potential cases of price gouging on Wednesday in response to the threat posed by Tropical Storm Isaias, after Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 25 counties.
"With the governor's emergency declaration, our office opened the price gouging reporting form for Tropical Storm Isaias. If you see or suspect an unreasonable increase in the price of essential goods, report it to our office," Uthmeier wrote on his X account.
Residents can file their complaints with the Florida Attorney General's Office using their price gouging complaint form or call 1-866-966-7226.
DeSantis signed on Tuesday the Executive Order 26-202, which declared a state of emergency in 25 counties in northern and northwestern Florida, including Escambia, Bay, Leon, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa. The decision was made while the system was still Tropical Depression Nine and allowed for the mobilization of resources before its strengthening.
Florida law prohibits disproportionate increases in the prices of essential goods and services during a state of emergency. To determine if price gouging has occurred, the law can compare the charged price with the average recorded in the 30 days prior to the declaration, although it allows for exceptions due to justified cost increases or market changes.
Protected goods and services include food, water, ice, fuel, housing, lumber, and generators, as well as essential work following a storm, such as tree removal, roof repairs, and water damage mitigation.
Violations can result in civil fines of up to $1,000 per offense and a maximum total of $25,000 within a 24-hour period.
Meanwhile, Isaias continued to strengthen on Wednesday in the Gulf. At 10:00 a.m. CDT, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported its maximum sustained winds at 45 mph (75 km/h), as it moved east-northeast at about eight miles per hour.
The NHC anticipates rapid intensification and estimates that Isaias could become a hurricane on Thursday, before approaching the northern Gulf coast on Friday. Hurricane and storm surge warnings have already been issued for areas in that region.
Forecasts also indicate rainfall accumulations of between three and six inches, with localized peaks of up to 10 inches from southeastern Louisiana to the Panhandle of Florida, posing a risk of flash and urban flooding.
Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are not included among the 25 counties covered by the current state of emergency. The order focuses on northern Florida and the Panhandle.
For its part, the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba (INSMET) indicated that Isaias does not pose a direct threat to the island, although the western region may experience some bands of rain associated with the system. "This system does not pose a danger to Cuba," the institution stated.
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