America is facing two very daunting tasks on the homefront at the moment.
Surely readers have seen the tragic, devastating images and videos coming out of North Carolina (and Georgia and Florida, and parts elsewhere.)
Entire buildings, entire streets, and entire villages have effectively been wiped off the map by Hurricane Helene, and by all indications, help from authorities is slow in coming. (Although that hasn’t stopped workaday Americans from doing what they always do: helping out.)
Then there’s the massive port strike, affecting much of the East Coast and Gulf areas.
Combined, the two are wreaking havoc on the economy, and as you might guess, people are worried. So worried, we’re seeing claims of panic buying crop up on social media.
Panic Buying At Costco?
Several people have shared what they claim is panic – or at least worried – buying at Costco. Obviously, as with anything on social media, take it with a grain of salt.
User WillWng11 shared a video that shows huge lines and carts filled with necessities like water and toilet paper:
User Chelsarita told a similar story, showing that the toilet paper section of her Costco is completely empty.
For regular Costco shoppers, you know there’s normally enough toilet paper to serve the British Navy.
That wasn’t the only Costco where people reported a dearth of toilet paper, either:
Everywhere you look, it seems to be the same story:
The local News 12 in New Jersey reported that clerks are restocking more than normal due to the expected influx of customers:
The port strike trouble stems from some 50,000 members of the International Longshoreman’s union going on strike for higher pay.
Demands reportedly include a 77% pay increase, even as roughly a third of union members make over $200,000 annually.
The strike taking place in the immediate aftermath of a very deadly hurricane on the same coast is a recipe for disaster if the union can’t come to an agreement.
And speaking of that hurricane, how much help those people are getting is an open question. At least one rescue pilot – a former narcotics unit Sheriff’s deputy no less – reported that he was threatened with arrest after saving several people in his helicopter.
No question, we are looking at a perfect storm for a humanitarian disaster if things aren’t cleared up soon.