As Hurricane Milton barrels towards the United States with winds reaching up to 155 mph, Florida's supermarkets are experiencing significant shortages due to panic buying by anxious customers. Major retailers like Publix, Walmart, and Sam's Club have astonishingly run out of bottled water supplies. Other items such as toilet paper and bread have also been snatched up, leaving shelves bare.
Popular TikTok accounts, Nury Calvo (@nurycalvosn) and Familia Obrien (@familiaobrien), have documented their frantic search for water in Florida’s supermarkets, sharing images that vividly capture the unexpected scarcity.
Surging Demand for Ice and Essentials
There has been a surge in demand for ice as residents brace for potential power outages. Stocking up on ice allows households to keep perishables like meat and dairy products cold in powerless refrigerators.
Despite the rush for essentials, items like soft drinks, beer, juices, smoothies, and yogurt remain available on the shelves. Consumers are prioritizing critical necessities such as drinking water, with toilet paper becoming an oddly crucial item as people prepare for the storm's uncertainty.
Widespread Panic Buying and Empty Shelves
The scenario is playing out in numerous stores, where empty shelves and long lines of customers are common as people scramble to stock up before Milton's arrival. The hurricane reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale on Monday afternoon. Although it weakened to Category 4 overnight, it still carries winds of 155 mph, posing a severe threat to Florida's west coast, which is still recovering from the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
Residents are fearful of Milton's potentially deadly impact, including flooding and prolonged power outages. This fear has sparked a rush for basic supplies, as families prepare to hunker down at home or in secure locations for the coming days.
The flurry of preparations highlights the growing anxiety in Florida as Milton's arrival looms on Wednesday.