While Raleigh is still recovering from the recent storm damage, it looks as though the incident has led to an uptick in residents resorting to hoarding. In scenes reminiscent of 2020, the item of choice is toilet paper. Spotted in Harris Teeter in South Raleigh, the image below went viral which showed rows of empty shelves. Here, only a few rolls remained after being purchased at record rates.
Naturally, this led to criticisms on social media, where users questioned the need for certain individuals to buy huge amounts for themselves. However, others claimed that some of these purchases would also have been used for charitable services too. In more optimistic news, this means that some of the toilet paper may have been used for donations.
It also led to calls from community leaders to avoid panic buying and to remain calm. Unfortunately however, it looks as though these calls may have gone on deaf ears as the saying goes, a picture says more than a thousand words.
And, as bad as the storm was, there have also been no reports of panic buying in other Raleigh stores. Because of this, it looks as though this was more of a localized, isolated incident rather than a sign of mass hoarding.