What was this I heard about the Los Angeles earthquake a few years back? If I recall correctly, a few people made small fortunes by selling water by the gallon to thirsty souls.

Does anyone have any documentation on this or similar cases (from recent or ancient history)?

And, yes, by all means, I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has personally witnessed any similar type of price-gouging of basic necessities (including food and fuel) in action.

While we're at it - any links on the current state of water treatment/pumping utilities?

Thanks,

-- Zach Anderson (z@figure.8m.com), November 25, 1999

Answers

I guess there were attempts to profiteer in South Florida during the Hurricane Andrew aftermath. It is illegal, you know.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 25, 1999.

Must have been in an area where I wasn't. Or right away at least. I got water from the water trucks for free when I ran out. Just brought the empty jugs.

-- James Collins (jacollins@thegrid.net), November 25, 1999.

Oh, forgot to mention there were other places giving out water for free. There was some place that was selling water filters and using free water as a lead in (since you used their filters to fill your jugs). No cost involved, but really reminded me of those time share deals (come in for a free goody and get a spiel). Personally, I consider that a legit way of doing things. Not forcing you to buy, but letting you know it is available, etc.

-- James Collins (jacollins@thegrid.net), November 25, 1999.

That rumor was evidently true (don't think the cost was 50 per gallon though). It didn't last long because the local authorities stepped in and arrested the perps for racketeering and extortion. The arrests actually happened but I never heard the outcome.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), November 25, 1999.

Okay, I HATE doing this, "info from a stranger of a friend of a third couson,from a third world, etc" Buuut, I was told by a Beautiful Beautician,(she offered me a bottle of her water because I was thirsty) that she lived through Andrew. The local "Mom and Pop" grocery stores "gouged" their own neighborhood folks on prices. Then the "Mean and Bad Military" came in, and put a halt to that!

-- Church Fan Waving (Haterumors@mill.com), November 25, 1999.

Not in my experience.

I was in the Northridge quake in 1994 about 7 miles from the epicenter.

What I was impressed by, was a LARGE local spring mountain water bottling company, Arrowhead, geared up their staff to emergency levels, and worked tons of overtime bottling water. Drivers then drove their usual, and not so usual, delivery routes. Customers and non-customers alike could get as many bottles as they wanted, same usual price. The driver I talked with told me one little old lady wanted 8 big bottles. She got them. I asked for 4.

Was very grateful to Arrowhead and continue to buy their products to this day in support of their corporate attitude then, in a time of great need.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 26, 1999.

__-I have a really funny one. back during the 70's, the "oil crisis", I as living with some folks in a beach house in st. pete. well, about overnite there wasn't any gas. we heard on the radio of a station in tampa had gas, and took off in an old econoline van. well, we got maybe a mile away from the station, got in the line. Listened to two entire 8 track tapes, and ran out of gas half way to the station and pushed it the rest of the way. When it was finally our turn, we got the privelege of getting 2 gallons @ 10$ a gallon. In todays money, that's maybe, what, 40$ a gallon, something like that? Here's the funny part, there was a package store across the street from the station. I watched with my own peepers some dood come out of that store with two cases of ron rico 151 proof rum and pour that stuff into a winnebago and drive away!!!!!

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), November 26, 1999.

I am confused. I can not get water for $0.50 a gallon in most stores now. This is for "drinking water". How is selling something in the same quantities as available in the store (when they have it) for the same price (or lower, or more) they would sell it for and for the same purpose they would sell it for, how is that bad, illegal, immoral, or profiteering?

You may say that the "drinking water" sold by the jug in the store is specially processed, but much of it has been shown to be little if any better quality than that which would come out of your faucet. Are we paying for the tamper-resistant seal?

If I spend money to store water, why should I be forced give it away for nothing. I may well choose to, but why should I be forced?

-- tree (thetrees@bigfoot.com), November 26, 1999.