Attorney General Ashley Moody has announced the extension of Florida's Price Gouging Hotline following a state of emergency declaration for areas anticipating Tropical Storm Milton. The state's price gouging law is already in effect for counties under the emergency order due to Hurricane Helene and will now include regions affected by Milton.
"Tropical Storm Milton is expected to rapidly strengthen as it churns through the Gulf of Mexico and heads toward areas in our state that have already experienced tremendous flooding and damage from Hurricane Helene," said Attorney General Ashley Moody. "We are extending Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline to help Floridians prepare for this new challenge. I’m urging everyone to monitor weather reports, get preparations in place and follow the guidance of local authorities. Stay Safe, Florida."
The state law prohibits excessive price increases on essential items like equipment, food, gasoline, hotel rooms, ice, lumber, and water during a storm-related declared state of emergency.
Reports of suspected price gouging can be made to the Florida Attorney General’s Office via MyFloridaLegal.com or by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. More information on price gouging is available through Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging resource.
In light of potential scams post-storms, resources such as Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: After the Storm are available to help avoid fraud during recovery efforts.
Violations of the price gouging statute may result in civil penalties amounting to $1,000 per violation and up to $25,000 for multiple violations within a single day.
Additionally, Attorney General Moody has released the 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Guide which offers insights into tropical systems and provides checklists and tips for avoiding storm-related scams.