After any widespread natural disaster reporters and commentators often lament the despicable practice of price gouging. Merchants are cursed as heartless and cruel.
Victimized shoppers vent their anger and frustration.
Local police are called on to intervene. This is exciting melodrama but sometimes wisdom and mercy dictate different courses of action. The immediate and obvious suffering of the shoppers is not the only consideration. It is important that critical resources in a post disaster situation be conserved, substituted, and extended as much as possible. Whenever something has a very high price tag, like expensive but life saving medicine, most consumers will try to conserve, substitute, and extend it as much as they can.