Introduction
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the United States, Florida residents are facing purchase limits and empty grocery shelves. With the state’s population of over 21 million people, the demand for food and other essential items has skyrocketed, leading to shortages in many stores. This has caused frustration and confusion among shoppers, as they struggle to find the items they need. In this article, we will discuss the reasons behind the purchase limits and empty shelves, and how Florida residents can best manage their grocery shopping during this difficult time.
Florida Residents Face Purchase Limits and Empty Grocery Shelves
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the United States, Florida residents are facing purchase limits and empty grocery shelves. With the state’s population of 21 million people, the demand for food and other essential items has skyrocketed, leading to shortages in many stores.
Grocery stores have implemented purchase limits on certain items, such as toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies, in order to ensure that everyone has access to the items they need. In addition, many stores have also limited the number of customers allowed in the store at one time in order to maintain social distancing guidelines.
The shortages have been especially hard on those who rely on food pantries and other charitable organizations for their food. Many of these organizations have had to reduce their services due to the lack of supplies. In addition, many of the people who rely on these services are elderly or have underlying health conditions, making them more vulnerable to the virus.
The state of Florida has taken steps to address the shortages, including providing additional funding to food banks and other charitable organizations. In addition, the state has also implemented a program to provide free meals to children who are out of school due to the pandemic.
While the shortages have been difficult for many Floridians, the state is doing its best to ensure that everyone has access to the items they need. With the help of the state and local organizations, Florida residents can continue to get the food and supplies they need during this difficult time.
Gaping grocery shelves where water bottles and bread used to be are the images coming out of Northeast Florida, as residents attempt to prepare for Hurricane Ian.
According to CBS News, grocery chain Publix confirmed that it has authorized its Florida locations to implement purchase limits on bottled water and other essentials. One location in St. Petersburg is limiting shoppers to daily purchases of two 24- or 32-packs of individual bottled water and four 1-gallon containers, the outlet reported.
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However, on its website, Publix is encouraging customers in Hurricane Ian’s path to stock up on shelf-stable emergency supplies like peanut butter, canned goods, powdered drinks, dried fruit, and baby formula.
“As we continue to monitor Ian, Publix locations may limit quantities of items, such as water, to best serve the majority of our customers,” a Publix spokesperson said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. “We have seen increased purchases on items such as bread, water, batteries, and canned goods, just to name a few.”
Publix isn’t the only chain feeling the pressure of the shopping frenzy. According to The Miami Herald, Kroger locations are also limiting water purchases. Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más, and Harveys Supermarket locations have allocated emergency stock of hurricane essentials, as demand has surged across the state. At a Wallgreens in Pinellas Park, flashlights were in short supply.
Hurricane Ian is now a Category 3 storm, as it made landfall in Cuba on Tuesday morning. In Florida, landfall is expected in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency and said about 2.5 million residents are under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders. According to The New York Times, the evacuations are taking place in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties.
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The latest weather forecasts show Ian is supposed to bring more than 15 inches of rain in areas from Tampa to Orlando, which makes major flooding a top concern.
Mura Dominko