Myths About Hurricanes-Lessons From Hurricane Ian & Florida

A lot of what the media and politicians tell us about hurricanes is just WRONG.
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Hurricane Ian destroyed parts of Florida.
As always, we're told that only FEMA can provide relief.
That storms are worse because of climate change.
That “price gouging" is evil.
That federal flood insurance is necessary, and helps poor people.
Little of that is true.
Until we learn the myths about storms, we’ll make the same costly mistakes again and again.

[@TheCarnivoreSoprano]

And people need to understand that just because a lie is repeated dozens of times, doesn't mean it's true. Thanks John for being willing to go against the tide of stupidity.

[@wsaut]

I forget the exact saying but it's something like repeat a lie enough times eventually people will believe it. The politicians motto.

[@1pcfred]

Repeating a lie often is how propaganda is done.

[@carlosreid51]

Hitler and Stalin stated tell a lie enough it becomes true I dislike far rightist but I loathe far marxism left I just real media balance , political balance , school learning choice and reasonable culture not this forced wokism that is killing our nation.

[@Gherit1]

By Isa Blagden: "If a lie is only printed often enough, it becomes a quasi-truth, and if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes an article of belief, a dogma, and men will die for it." Lenin: "Actually, Peking has operated, as Moscow has since the days of Lenin, on a number of principles which taken together can be called the technique of the "great lie." Among these are: 1) make it big enough and people will believe part of it; (2) repeat it often enough and you will convince some people; (3) say it in enough different ways, and you will convince others..." Lenin Rivero: “There's a saying in Cuba: A lie repeated many times becomes the truth,”

[@leoverran311]

See what you did with the tide thing

[@saxon6]

I was a firefighter at the Pentagon on 9/11. The North Carolina Baptist Men's Association came and set up in the logistics area and fed us. I will never forget their generosity and action.

[@beebob1279]

And when did the media let us know if their generosity?

[@glennrishton5679]

They were on the Mississippi Coast in force after Katrina too along with many other faith based groups. Another group ripped out all my old sheetrock then supplied and hung all new sheetrock.

[@--harry_]

I guess that is one reason religion is bad, it makes us less dependent on the government? I swear the left tore into trump when he mentioned communities helping each other and relying less on the government.

[@kng3785]

I can vouch for this. During a natural disaster in my area, where thousands lost their homes, FEMA and the Red Cross were useless and only wasted the emergency funds. We, the displaced people, relied primarily on the kind hearted people of charities, like Catholic Charities and World Central Kitchen 🙏🏼💕

[@leipersgreen6763]

John Stossel is one of the last true old school journalists left in America.

[@van1ty821]

Tucker Carlson is Holding it down as well Maybe not your cup of tea but he is doing good Mainstream work

[@Stacietookmyname]

Shoot! Did I miss Stossel report on the clot shots? Did he report on the WEF? Did he report on all the unfair practices the hospitals & Dr's were pulling on the UN- innoculated???? I could go on & on & on

[@andrecarvalho1339]

@@van1ty821 Tucker Carlson is an idiot, comparing him to Stossel is insulting

[@jasonb5390]

It’s literally required for at least one person to say this everytime he posts a video. Lol like seriously every comment section is filled with comments like this. Say something original for once

[@jasonb5390]

@@van1ty821 that dude is a corporate cuck just like everyone else in mainstream media. Dude straight up pushed propaganda about the Texas blackouts 2 years ago.

[@BrianStDenis-pj1tq]

I'm glad you were willing to mention the faith based charities. I volunteered with (the largest) one for the post-tornado clean up in Kentucky. It was clear that the faith based charities (and one in particular) was much larger than FEMA, and brought food, water, showers, and supplies, door to door... for free. They also remove fallen trees from people's properties, which was the type of team I was on. They are organized, and ready, all around the country - they train, gather supplies and prepare in advance, and show up immediately. The media seems to not notice them, but they don't do it for recognition.

[@brockheathway9168]

They like to be engaged in their communities. They anxiously await the opportunity to do good and all of their own free will.

[@Tja22]

What is this organization? If anything deserves some extra $$ sent to them your testimony leads me to believe they’re it

[@BrianStDenis-pj1tq]

@@Tja22 Check 1:37 in video. Shortly after, they show a trailer with the organization's sticker on it. Those trailers, from all over (various states) go to each major disaster. I hear they are larger than even Red Cross.

[@Gretchaninov]

Even if they don't want recognition, which is noble, more people should know because it exposes the gov't's incompetence and the left's hypocrisy in thinking that only they care.

[@bonagrad92]

Faith based organizations should be mentioned more often since they volunteer their time MUCH MORE than the left complains about their faith. I don't remember where I heard/read it, but the left is more apt to throw money at an issue than volunteer their time.

[@TheParamotorGuy]

After my home town flooded, fema called to see what they can do to help. But they called too late. The community had already taken care of those thousands affected. Edit: I see that people think I live in Florida. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN UTAH!!!!

[@chrisrobles2012]

And yet FEMA still get millions for each disaster. And they keep taking more money fro homeowners for flood zone insurance . The biggest scam ever.

[@maryloulong6789]

FEMA is a joke.

[@christingle2004]

The best thing FEMA can do after a storm is help the people who are unable to afford insurance. Especially in Florida with these crazy insurance rates.

[@0011peace]

@@christingle2004 werem't you listyening ity was government flood insurence that makes people who shoulkdn't live on the ocean

[@UncaAlbyGmail]

@@christingle2004 If you can not afford insurance in a certain area, maybe that's the insurance company's way of telling you it's a good idea to live somewhere else.

[@MsEnglishtea]

My uncles and cousins have been helping fix people's roofs and removing trees that have fallen due to hurricane Ian. I've been helping my aunts by giving out food. We've all been helping because we went through it together. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see everyone helping one another especially when we live in a time where we are so divided.

[@LoreDeluge]

I had five feet in my home from an unnamed storm. Lived in this home for 30 years. Never flooded. I waited to rebuild for over a year while living in the home, to make sure we would not have stipulations on rebuild. We were told it was fine to rebuild. Because I took help from FEMA and additional funds to rebuild, I was required to keep the amount took to rebuild in flood insurance. I was told it would not raise over or much more than $2000, which had just been $200 just a couple years before FEMA changed the flood maps. So, after the storm, FEMA covered the flood insurance for a couple of years. It was not the full amount, but it was fine because we only had the kitchen complete and two by fours in the rest of the house. Well, it came time to get that flood insurance. Total $5000 for the year. Next year $5500, the next year $6000. I am required to get federal and not private because I took the funds to rebuild. Three years later FEMA came in and said that we, along with hundreds of other, had to raise our homes or sell it to them. They of course will help pay for SOME of the cost, not all for raising it. Buy out is not even full market value for the price now or at the time of the flood. And the seller (me) would have to pay an additional $10,000 at closing. If we would have known this, we would have tore down the whole house and rebuilt ourselves, or moved. It has been two years since receiving that letter and still have not gotten an approval to raise. With inflation, I know my Portion is going to be close to $40,000-$60,000 They called it the 100 year flood, yet we are required to raise it or tear it down, while they continue to build new homes in neighborhoods like sardines raised to the sky with dirt. Which only puts more strain on the homes that have been in this location for more than 40 years or more. They are also built in areas that were woods next to old neighborhoods where all the water drain to. Our congressman was able to get millions of funds to help us, only a small fraction was given out. He is still complaining about that being the fact. Check out the Facebook group STOP FEMA NOW. There are people from all over the country in that group that have been hit with FEMA garbage

[@georgewagner7787]

Don't you mean raze?

[@Tzizenorec]

How much money did FEMA give you to help rebuild?

[@newagain9964]

@@TruthIsFreedom7777 ikr he needs to call a couple of guys from the old neighborhood to “remodel” his place. Lolz

[@garygrant9612]

I've been saying this for decades. Thanks John for showing others how the government works, it doesn't.

[@UncaAlbyGmail]

Of course, most of what John Stossel is telling us today in these YT videos has been said for decades. I'm hoping that YT will give John a bigger audience and maybe have a chance to convince more people.

[@darylfoster6133]

I think Milton Friedman said it best: “There are four ways in which you can spend money. You can spend your own money on yourself. When you do that, why then you really watch out what you’re doing, and you try to get the most for your money. Then you can spend your own money on somebody else. For example, I buy a birthday present for someone. Well, then I’m not so careful about the content of the present, but I’m very careful about the cost. Then, I can spend somebody else’s money on myself. And if I spend somebody else’s money on myself, then I’m sure going to have a good lunch! Finally, I can spend somebody else’s money on somebody else. And if I spend somebody else’s money on somebody else, I’m not concerned about how much it is, and I’m not concerned about what I get. And that’s government."

[@UncaAlbyGmail]

@@darylfoster6133 Milton Friedman is usually spot on, the only issue with that paragraph is it won't fit on a bumper sticker!

[@creativitysubs9935]

Price gouching laws are double edged, but if they had no edge at all you'd be dead now. As'd be I.

[@UncaAlbyGmail]

@@creativitysubs9935 I fail to see your logic.

[@Savvynomad225]

"Just because you think you're helping, doesn't mean you are" is exactly right. The government rarely helps, but instead causes things to be far worse most of the time.

[@UmmCarl]

The Nine Most Terrifying Words in the English Language. "I'm from the government and I'm here to help!"

[@konic40]

Lots for treatments get supressed during a pandemic because of big govt stepping in and not letting the doctors figure out the best treatment. Big tech and major news channels also get involved on the govt behalf

[@dam8087]

​@@UmmCarl I am sure you're one of these people that thinks you'd do fine without the military, roads, telecommunications, fire services, police and a myriad of other functions the Government provides. Ignorance is bliss I suppose

[@jasonharrison25]

I've asked others the question, what has the government fixed or solved. what is no longer an issue or problem because the government fixed it? I've yet to find one person with an answer to this

[@Savvynomad225]

@@jasonharrison25 if the government solved a problem, they'd cease to exist

[@erikarice6859]

Government insurance meant as a first time home buyer in Florida, my mortgage payment at $304 a month was $2 less than my insurance which was $306. I worked hard to make triple payments, I got out from under that mortgage and it required insurance as fast as possible. I’ve been through 20 minor and major storms in the last 24 years, and did just fine by doing annual maintenance. I never had to ask anyone for the money to fix the broken stuff, because I saved my money like I was paying insurance and I fixed things myself (often times for neighbors as well). Funny enough George, which was a cat 1-2 did more damage than all the rest because of 18 days of rain. We had firewood for years but lost some beautiful trees. The weather channel lies about a lot of the details and this is the worst year to do it. These transplants that moved to escape COVID don’t know what to do, they see the panic media BS and you can’t calm them down. I was born in Florida and I’ll die here, but it’s not for everyone. It was hard to see people panic buying here in the north panhandle, Floridians knew we were not getting anything but the transplants lost their minds. The media is a bully and a sycophant, sad and disgusting.

[@EventHoriXZ0n]

You bought a house in a high risk flood zone and thank government insurance that you were able to do that because you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford it? Huh?

[@mythrainbow]

So glad to see Stossel in the classroom, hope that happens more.

[@beardedslavbrew615]

I applaud you for your honesty and admitting that you made a stupid decision. You're the type of person willing to learn from your mistakes and teach other people those lessons that you learned So that they won't make the same mistakes. You're a real American Mr. Stossel. I'm proud to be a libertarian because of you.

[@GeorgeRamsey22]

It's great that he had an example of his own. And the fact that he admits his mistakes in the name of honest journalism makes it even better.

[@tarakhenight6185]

The problem is though, whenever our government makes a mistake, those people in our government who made the mistake don't suffer any consequences for their mistake. And as a result don't even admit that they even made a mistake. They throw money around willy-nilly costing our taxpayers billions of dollars while accomplishing absolutely nothing accept filling theirs and "friends" pockets. Government officials are some of the highest paid people in this country and yet they do the least amount of work in this country.

[@GeorgeRamsey22]

@@tarakhenight6185 same thing with corruption.

[@oldtimefarmboy617]

@@GeorgeRamsey22 Government. Corruption. What is the difference?

[@yoellopez82]

Call him Iron Man.

[@isaiahwelch8066]

I'm going to add this: If you look at the data, the evidence, and the damage to date from hurricanes, there still hasn't been a hurricane as damaging as Hurricane Andrew in 1992, that cost the government as much money to recover from. And that includes the later hurricanes of Katrina and Rita that hit New Orleans and the Gulf coasts in 2003. Ironically, had the US Army Corp. of Engineers been mandated to maintain the Louisiana levees, New Orleans would not have been flooded by the levees breaking. I call this "ironic" because National Geographic, in a video about extreme weather phenomenon, actually included a "What If?" scenario that I showed my 8th grade Physical Science class -- in 1998. Not 7 years later, what that video predicted, actually came to pass, and the consequences of not maintaining the levees happened. It wasn't just a matter of protecting the people, it was government neglect that caused the disaster in New Orleans, and forced the city's residents to flee what became the 10' floodwaters from the levees breaking. Which is why I have to ask: Who, knowing the failures of government, would ever want to depend on the government to recover from a hurricane, tornado, or other extreme weather phenomenon?

[@hallelujah4296]

event201

[@AeroGuy07]

Thank you! I thought I was the only person who remembered Hurricane Andrew!

[@stevebabiak6997]

Typo in the parent comment: it has the word “can” where it seems “call” was intended

[@briank5877]

I remember Andrew, it was basically a super tornado. That said the good ole government decided to increase building standards for building homes. My home originally built in 1950 was added onto after and can say for a fact the older section was built better with sold block and the last thing that would be blown away.

[@ntmn8444]

@@briank5877 Andrew was not a super tornado. It was a hurricane. Its important to make the distinction. I lived in the area that got hit. What no one here is mentioning is that since then building codes in Miami-Dade county changed to some of the highest in the nation. The way houses are built these days there are different, much stronger and more resistant. More houses now have high impact windows and such, as an example. Our house withstood Andrew, because the house was made of cinder block. That and the trees in our backyard didn’t hit our home. We were lucky. A lot of people did lose their roofs, so many chose not to replant trees on their properties.

[@pbjae8140]

I lived in Orlando, Florida during hurricanes Charlie, Frances and Jean. After each storm, people on our block went house to house and cleared downed trees...

[@AmericanActionReport]

I clearly recall that in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo (1989) people drove bottled water from other parts of South Carolina and Georgia to the hurricane-ravaged area. Due to the cost of transportation (gasoline), motel rooms, meals, and time, they charged more than the going rate for the water. Government stopped them from doing it. As a consequence, water was often unavailable at any price.

[@ChristopherRyans]

John is a hero and American legend

[@justinsane7128]

You're right John they suck especially when they start to rule delivering by equity

[@JujuGurgel]

I'm a Fort Myers resident and FEMA keeps on denying people from left to right. I have not heard of one single person that was helped by FEMA but all residents are coming together and helping out. FEMA is here but what they are doing is exactly what residents were already doing the very next day after the disaster and that is distribute water and food.

[@joshuagould548]

Thank you John. I live in New Orleans, and I feel like every year, when hurricane season comes around, the hurricane myth resurfaces, and I have to repeat myself, "Hurricanes are not getting worse". It only seems that way because they're living through them. Some people just can't see past their nose.

[@tjhoward5453]

Worked in emergency management. This is absolutely true.

[@haitolawrence5986]

Thank you for your service.

[@michaelrivers5213]

Watching your videos reminds me that I’m NOT crazy.

[@ledzeppelin1212]

It's worse. Instead of ONE of you being crazy, MILLIONS of our fellow Americans are crazy.

[@bullfrogpondshop3179]

Years ago, Stossel pointed out another truth about so-called "price gouging": Without being able to raise prices on commodities, there is ZERO incentive for people to buy and transport commodities to areas that need them.

[@nukepuke932]

The price gouging segment seems to be based on the possibility that early customers will start hoarding hurricane items, leaving later customers with nothing. If stores would put item limits per customer, this issue would go away.

[@jayr9810]

Even mandatory purchase limits won't stop the problem, it's always a supply vs demand issue driven off fear puts everything into a frenzy. Simply not enough folks properly prepared and not enough items available locally to supply everyone in a disaster area.

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

Even limits do not help if you send the kid in with a $100 bill and he gets 5 bottles of propane, people find workarounds. Look at the great TP crisis of 2020, if prices went UP on TP I doubt people would have got truckloads of it and we may have had some to go around? It is a touchy subject but if you need 1 generator for your place but you got 5 because you can... What good are the other 4 sitting there doing nothing that grandpa with a CPAP needs to make it through the night?

[@divinecomedian2]

Those are really hard to enforce. Folks can just hit up multiple stores or send someone else in to make more purchases. Plus what about people with larger families? Stores didn't take that into account with COVID so my large family got the same amount as a single person family, so we got screwed.

[@OGPND]

There is a reason Mainstream media suppresses this kind of reporting. I remember watching your segements on 20/20 when I was a kid, it had a big influence on me. Looking back on it now it's hard to believe they even aired them..

[@endofeverything666]

A foolish man builds his house upon the sand, a wise Man builds his house upon the solid Ground.

[@genek8630]

I remember when I was looking for a house years ago. The first thing I told my realtor was I don't even want to look at a house that was near a creek or a stream, and you still hear about homes getting flooded when, there is this one in a hundred year event. My house is on top of a hill if the water ever reaches my house its the end of the world. Why anyone would want a house in a flood plain is beyond me.

[@michaelashley2855]

So that’s the reason Florida is filled with fools ?

[@grizzlygrizzle]

Back in the day, there used to be beach communities made of very small cottages, which were used seasonally and weren't built for year-round living. They were cheap, so that occasional hurricanes could sweep them away without catastrophic financial losses.

[@halfcentury1112]

I am not 100% sure how I feel about some of your points, but as always, well done John

[@haitolawrence5986]

At least you're thinking...pretty rare these days.

[@Eric-bh7jy]

Price gauging from local stores vs people hoarding can be eliminated by putting a limit on how many a person can buy. Costco did this and it worked pretty well. Brining in items from out of the area should be fine

[@haitolawrence5986]

Makes sense. Although I'm not sure what would stop someone coming back to a store repeatedly to get around that.

[@sanchocloset5987]

It's comical how the best solution to hoarding is jacking up the price. Shifting the blame to the people instead of those greedy,opportunistic SOB's.

[@BriBCG]

@@haitolawrence5986 Nothing. I used to work in a grocery store and whenever we had a sale and would limit the amount to prevent from selling out too quick there was always a bunch of people who would still load up their cart with them and hope the cashier wouldn't enforce it, have multiple family or friends go through, or just come back in again and buy more. It probably did help but I can only imagine desperate people trying to hoard for a disaster would make the problem even worse.

[@lv4077]

That was a good presentation thank you. I lived in Florida near the beach for 10 years it’s absolutely absurd the way these hurricanes are covered by the media. They’ve dramatically promoted by the weather channel and any type of meteorologist because now they have a reason for existence and they can be on television that’s their real hearts desire. The politicians also dramatically use these events to attract more federal funds to help improve roads,bridges and the rest of these decimated areas. You’re led to believe ,by showing you satellite photographs ,that a ca is the size of the Cloudbank you see in the pictures. The really intense winds are normally much more compact and may not extend more than 40 to 50 miles from the Eye and wind damage is really only important in those tight areas unless of course you’re in a mobile home or a 1950s house. there’s no money in being truthful when reporting on a natural disaster. Unfortunately the rest of the country gets to share in the financial suffering since they have to underwrite our insurance policies. Many of these areas should never have had homes built even near them but thanks to the support of all the taxpayers in areas that are actually at low risk these poorly situated developments are growing The fiction that anthropogenic climate change has greatly enhanced these storms seems to be our politicians and corrupt bureaucrats, new hobby sense there’s so much money in it.

[@BlyGuy]

Ian was a freakin' Cat 1 storm when it hit Florida, with 80-85mph sustained winds. Now that people are starting to catch on that we can track these storms ourselves and see first hand the severity using highly accurate wind maps, I imagine it won't be long before those are wiped off the net.

[@theelectricunicyclist9069]

Old hobby.

[@iamsucharetard]

@@BlyGuy so desantis is a liar?

[@BlyGuy]

@@iamsucharetard Impossible to know, but I would guess that DeSantis is like most people and gets his weather reports from corporate media and is unaware that we are being lied to about the strength of storms. Next time there is a hurricane, go to an online wind map, the one I like the best is "earth.nullschool" and look for yourself what the highest winds that storm is producing versus what the media is saying about the storm.

[@iamsucharetard]

@@BlyGuy is the storm surge also fake? Like the news is showing edited videos?

[@hypnicjerk7696]

It's odd that the media never talks about the fact we are still coming out of an ice age. I wonder why this easily researchable fact has yet to surface on network television?🤔

[@jtc1947]

@ Christopher.....Climate change and global warming are the CHICKEN LITTLE buzz words!

[@edphillips2998]

No need to wonder: if it doesn’t fit the narrative, it doesn’t get reported. If you question this rule, you are “anti-science”.

[@joeyd7728]

It’s so awesome to see that Stossel grew a spine and now spits nothing but TRUTH! God bless🙏🏼

[@farmerfox3332]

Again I say....one of the best journalist that has not sold out. Well done. This is why i am subscribed. I wish there was a whole network like this.

[@hornblow9219]

I've been a fan of this reporter since his career and my interest started in the 1970's. His stories made me feel sane in a insane world. So he earned my trust based on the information he presented. I have always been surprised that the mainstream media let him broadcast stories that doesn't reflect their narrative. It even caused me to question his integrity on sensitive subjects. Him not chasing a narrative maybe why more people don't know of him.

[@iamkesha.]

Im from the Caribbean and lived through many hurricanes. Most of my family lives state side now but my childhood home got destroyed by Maria in 2017. It wasn’t in a typical flooding zone but it flooded past the plugging sockets. My mom tried to get fema assistance and was rejected. The government claims they are there to help but real people don’t get that help and the money is ciphered within the top officials, you know bureaucrats.

[@utacity]

Another great job Mr. Stossel. You are a force for good in a krazy world. Thank you.

[@dystopiandaze]

Thank you for your honesty.

[@thehuguenot5615]

Businesses help also. 100 years ago in Dayton was a massive flood, and national cash register converted their factories to produce goods for families. And the community rebuilt much faster than if there was some FEMA there to waste time.

[@vulpo]

This video should be required viewing for all politicians and media people.

[@Joe-pc3hs]

I volunteered for the Katrina relief effort in NOLA. On my rotation to aid the ARC center, a lady with a brand new red Chevy pulls up for MREs and water. She already had 3 cases of MREs and 1 case of water. She gave me a HUGE ass attitude when I pointed out the obvious problem, and the Red Cross personnel there told me to just give her the allotment.

[@jamesmcd71]

I have lived in Long Beach MS most of my 51 years. We took direct hits from the 2 largest Hurricanes to have ever hit the US. We have always been rebuilt and back to normal faster and cheaper than the other states effected. And we except as little as 10% of federal government aid compared to the other states. The city of New Orleans is still dependent of federal funds to rebuild from Katrina damage. Yes it's been 17 years and New Orleans is still reporting damage. Yet the city of Pass Cristina was completely recovered from the face of the earth. Not 1 structure was left standing. A 26ft wall of water destroyed everything then drug most of it back into the Gulf of Mexico. Today you can drive through and never know of the massive disaster that happened here.

[@vinhunt8084]

Hey love your videos! I agree with mostly everything you say(not blindly). I see a very dignified and a respectful man who makes great journalism. It's quite interesting to see an American who does journalism and it doesn't involve shouting or strong feelings. Also the way you speak seems to be respectful and also when speaking of contrary opinions it seems that you give them their due respect or just flat out disagree without feeling bad about it. Yet I feel that you have a great sense of understanding of the other side too. Greetings from Finland John & may you remain top of your game always!

[@ntmn8444]

He does what every good journalist should do: he goes and interviews people but pushes back and challenges them. He plays devil’s advocate a lot when interviewing. It’s always been his style. He’s worked for some of the biggest networks here in the USA, back when they were still interested in reporting real news.

[@johngalt8564]

Thank you for this!! I did some 'price gouging' during the Beanie Baby craze and made $500 in one day. Not too long after that, I was going to load up a truck with plywood, tarps, water and generators to go to Florida after a hurricane. Yeah, I was going to charge double...I was missing work, and taking incredible risk that my truck would make it to the area in need. It would've been a win-win, but instead the state passed price gouging rules. So I didn't do it and everyone lost instead.

[@JakeWitmer]

Yep. People regularly cripple themselves with government, and, because they do so in thousands of areas, we're all impoverished (relative to what we could be).

[@Emanouche]

You weren't trying to help, you were trying to make a profit. Let's call it how it is, if you were trying to help, you would just have asked for the money to recoup your costs, or even better, give it as charity. I'm tired of scalpers pretending to be heroes, you are opportunistic pricks.

[@JakeWitmer]

@@Emanouche You must have missed the part where he said "win/win" ...do you have logic that disputes this statement? Everyone only acts in self-interest, at best. ...What little good we do is when our interests are aligned with others' interests.

[@johngalt8564]

@@Emanouche You don't understand risk or opportunity costs. And you damn sure don't understand me.

[@redwave3520]

John, you are a breath of fresh air in the stink of journalism. I wish you were back on the TV. I enjoyed watching your show.

[@CHMichael]

I'm in the middle of it. Publix supermarket is doing a great job providing not only provisions but also cash. The local government is horrible in communication. Cash - gas - generator- tarps. A map of blocked roads ( north/south only) We all have phones - messaging shouldn't be a problem. Neighbors - that's who is helping. I haven't seen price gouging - limits help more than high prices . Modern houses survived - even on the beach.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

What city area are you in? Do animals need help? What private groups are helping? Publix giving cash … that is the first time I heard of a business doing that.

[@CHMichael]

@@Blue-hf7xt I'm close to downtown fort myers - 5min walk to river. Good question. I could take a few - but I don't have the time to go looking. At this point I'm back to normal ( electricity etc) Everything involving government etc. Is hard to find. I will do cleanup for one more week. Publix didn't just give cash - but they were the only place you could get cash . No atm working. They came prepared. Big bundles of $20. At this point Publix was the only place accepting debit /credit.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

@@CHMichael oh I saw sign where they were taking donations. I thought just maybe they gave it directly to people.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

@@CHMichael thank You for the details. It helps to know the realities so to better prepare.

[@CHMichael]

@@Blue-hf7xt it's older houses and prefab. On fort myers Beach and Sanibel. 90% of houses built after 2000 only have minor or no damage

[@cberge8]

After hurricane Ida the national gaurd was not in the affected zone for 4-5 days. Less than 24 hours after winds were below 45mph there were countless private relief groups already mobilized in the area providing free food, water, and other disaster related items.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

How does one find the private relief groups?

[@cberge8]

@@Blue-hf7xt the only national one that I recall was convoy of hope. Aside from them, it was mainly local church groups, hardware stores, and grocery stores that pitched in to help the community.

[@Gitn2it]

Samaritan's Purse, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities are some other faith-based groups that do a good job in crises situations. Then there are local churches and community groups that help out as well.

[@j.scottanderson4417]

@@Blue-hf7xt They typically find you. Provided the local law enforcement will allow, they are driving up and down every street in an area looking for people to help.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

@@j.scottanderson4417 Angels on wheels.

[@gazizbekmursali6145]

Best journalist in US!

[@annescholl420]

I Have learn something while watching your videos. And sometime they even confirm what I suspected! Thank you for another great one! Keeping all my fellow Floridians in my thoughts and prayers! 🙏❤️‍🩹🙏

[@AD5DU]

I live in Oklahoma and was here on September 11, 2001 and I remember some of local gas stations raising there prices. I don't think there was a good reason for it. People weren't sure what would happen next and the station owners were going take advantage of people but state and local governments stepped in. I do agree with most of what you said. I think I'll share your video on Facebook.

[@roymartinez4054]

I live in South Florida (born and raised) and I can tell you that technological advancements have saved lives and property immensely since hurricane Andrew. Immensely. After Ian, you can see the results of such advancements. I have visited the area several times. Places like Ft. Myers Beach have areas that were essentially "shanty town" style structures. That's the image you keep seeing on tv.

[@billybatson8657]

John is the king of informative journalism.

[@phukyerpheefees]

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -C.S. Lewis

[@jessbridges564]

Tennessee took care of Nashville during the devastating Nashville flood. We didn’t have looting because immediately neighbors with shotguns set up chairs at the entrances of all the flooded neighborhoods. Behind them were signs that said looters would be shot. It was extremely effective. The Dominican Nuns having recently delt with Hurricane Katrina had upgraded their Emergency response. During the storm they activated the emergency contact system to reach the families all the children in their school system. They wanted to know if we were safe or if we needed evacuation or supplies. They directed us to a web page that listed people and pets that needed immediate housing and any special needs, they had supplies needed and a schedule for work groups to assemble, be trained and supplied when the water receded. Our family gathered bleach, gloves and cleaning supplies. My patients in Tullahoma TN dropped off carloads of clothes, food and tools that I drove to Nashville each day. I learned to rapidly cut down flood damaged Sheetrock and spray studs with bleach to prevent mold. We all worked side by side to help the approx 900 families in the Dominican school System which helped lower the total burden of recovery. Pretty much every church or group reached out to take care of the affected people in Nashville. We didn’t end up using or needing FEMA

[@boogitybear2283]

I hate the new Nashville. I hope the next flood is 10 times worse.

[@gasoven3759]

Hi, I'm with the government and I'm here to help.

[@roymadison5686]

News, a real newsman, reporter , journalist.....thank God for John Stossel, and may he continue in health for years to come. He is one in a thousand in his profession.

[@michaelbraun6255]

Great video. Another reason why hurricanes and other severe weather appears to be worse is because of population. In 1950 there were much fewer people located in areas inclined to severe weather. Severe weather always hits but decades ago they affected far less populated areas. Therefore not as big of news. With the populations exploding in at high risk areas shows far worse damage. And that increases the dollar damage dramatically. For example, Desert population explosion equals much lower water reserves. Coastline population explosion makes hurricanes appear bigger and stronger. Same goes for high risk fire and tornado areas.

[@WSKRBSCT]

This is true. I did a thesis paper in my Climatology class that posited that tornado frequency and severity were increasing due to global warming. They had just started really pushing that idea on campuses back then. My paper did not support that and instead attributed it to a combination of things: new WSR-88D Doppler radar that improved detection, greater population that increased the chance a tornado was seen due to more eyes in more places, greater damage totals because more people in more places means more stuff to be destroyed. It only takes the wrong storm (even if it is the only one in an entire season) to hit the wrong place at the wrong time to make history. So, it is pretty much as you said. Media and politicians and those who stand to benefit from this ruse refuse to admit it and will call you the denier when you say otherwise, despite things like my paper categorically disagreeing with them and providing sound reasoning that can be proven as to why. Edit: It also just occurred to me that the period of the 1950s (and 1960s) were particularly notable for the number of very strong hurricanes.

[@jdwar11]

Great segment like usual. Dispelling these myths are becoming more and more difficult to debunk with the mainstream propaganda pushing it harder.

[@albertosantana8151]

I just ran into this Stossel video! I rememberJohn Stossel since "20/20" days. I would watch that show only for John's reports. I find him to be one of the best, straight forward reporters. Thank you for your honest work, Mr. Stossel.

[@frezzi5541]

You are by far my favorite journalist. Honestly, I don't know how you do it. Everytime I see another video you make, I think more and more "why everyone else has sold out, and no longer tells the truth, he's gonna be forced to also, however he made it this far, they're gonna get him". I don't know how you've done it, but please don't stop. America needs you.

[@slenef4887]

Makes sense. Thanks for the info.

[@luciusjuliusflavius6214]

It is almost as if we live in a supply and demand economy. It is amazing that people who live in an area that the know will have a natiral disaster, dont prepare.

[@bretparker8533]

I love this channel it's like watching a old school mainstream journalist who finally gets to say what he wants not what his boss tells him to say and cover what he wants to cover

[@Malbeefance]

Sorry about your home, John. I'm happy no one got hurt. And I'm glad you took the lesson to heart. Thanks for staying an journalist and not giving in to the push turning all media in to propaganda.

[@michaelashley2855]

And good for you to take advantage of gov’t handouts

[@thomas6502]

Thanks John. Appreciated the story about your place (and sorry about the loss, even being made "whole" financially doesn't necessarily cover the intangibles associated with losing your home). I am curious how your thinking evolved since then and whether there are lessons in that transformation that might be helpful to others who are on the path to learning to embrace a healthy skepticism. Keep up the good work sir.

[@restorehumility3538]

Love & respect your work for SO LONG now... Thank you!

[@MrsLiz]

Keep telling the truth...people NEED this!

[@jeremykraenzlein5975]

During the toilet paper shortage of March 2020, I saw an explanation of the situation on the Georgia-Pacific website. They listed some things that they were doing to increase production, but also noted a number of obstacles, including that toilet paper was a "low-margin" product. At the time, that should NOT have been a problem. Even doubling the price wouldn't break anyone's bank. At that time I certainly would have rather seen store shelves full of toilet paper at double or even triple the normal price, than store shelves empty at the normal price. Perhaps I am missing something, but I cannot think of any reason other than "price gouging" laws that would have prevented them from raising the prices at that time. If price increases would have allowed them to bring in more resources, and increase production substantially, and end the shortages more quickly, then they would have been more than worth it.

[@divinecomedian2]

Yep, fuckin clowns bought it all up. I bet they had that tp for months or sold it themselves at a higher price. Scalpers exist because the market isn't allowed to set the correct price.

[@zg-it]

Here in michigan, I encourage everyone to constantly complain to our stupid attorney general about fake price gouging. Waste their time people. Fill out a form saying that you are charged 30 cents too much for a candy bar. In Michigan our price gouging laws are clearly arbitrary. If I charge too much for my services and someone reports me, I'm now a price gouger.

[@Cha-Khia]

What is the goal of this? Just to waste the AGs time, or something else? I don't look in Michigan, I'm just unsure of what the goal here is. Text has no power inflexion, I'm genuinely unsure about what you're saying.

[@matthewmuellner]

Somehow the gouge is never the government itself, just trust the self proclaimed saviors.

[@zg-it]

@@Cha-Khia absolutely, flood them with arbitrary price gouging claims. She thinks people are going to rat out shady gas stations or something. The law in the book is for any good that's priced too high. It's such a terriblely written law. So basically if one of my clients wanted to complain about my prices, I might have to answer to the state. So I think we should fill their form constantly claiming price gouging of tiny amounts to show how ridiculously pathetic the idea is. She's wasting our tax paying dollars on billboards asking people to rat on their neighbors for charging too much. Accuse big businesses by the way, fill out the form saying that Kroger charge you 20 cents too much. This way her little campaign against Liberty backfires and embarrasses her. I'd like to see her staffers constantly going through all these arbitrary claims.

[@SoloRenegade]

gov arguing "price gouging" and controlling the markets is Socialism.

[@rarelibra]

the intent for those laws does start out with an honest means ... take, for example, the moron during covid who rented a large Uhaul, drove across like 4 states, and depleted the supply of bleach, cleaners, and such from various Dollar stores along the route... that one, single act did more damage in so many ways ... not only did it deplete the supply for local residents in many areas, the man and woman who did it then tried to gouge people by selling the items at extreme markup costs. It is good that the government stepped in and stopped them. The point is to provide enough incentive to prevent it from occurring again. Unless we have a total collapse of society, the point is to maintain our infrastructure - laws, etc.

[@craighansen7594]

John just adds some simple logic to accurate reporting, a real journalist!

[@dentpeninde]

John, thank you very much for all you do!!!!

[@Kurumaro1]

This was so enjoyable to watch. Thank you for the great coverage and amazing journalism! We are blessed to have you, John.

[@miamiisyours]

John Stossel is an American treasure

[@komet5420]

this was eye-opening. thank you!

[@holdenhockman8340]

ok understandable about increased prices when there is a high demand that far exceeds the supply but can we all agree that there is a clear difference between "price gouging" and scalping? great video John keep up the good work 😀

[@sweydert]

There's a difference but it's not clear. The guy with the generators, after truck, fuel, and time, would have been lucky to clear a 15%-20% profit -- hardly gouging. But others would argue "clearly gouging." Which is it?

[@rarelibra]

yes... in this case, John is wrong. Increasing prices during an emergency should be highly illegal.

[@dknowles60]

@@sweydert but the poli9ce took every thing so the guy lost a lot of money time

[@dknowles60]

@@rarelibra wrong

[@rarelibra]

@@dknowles60 nope

[@peterbrunsgaard2012]

My favorite journalist continues to set the bar very high! 👏👏🙏🙏

[@kents2508]

Keep up the great work, Mr. Stossel! I've been an amateur meteorologist for 56 years. Still haven't drank the climate fraud Kool-Aid. Your reporting is spot on, and by the government's own records. Subscribed!!

[@Paducahrus]

I love this in too many ways. I've taught economics as a side hustle for 25 years, so I truly appreciate the part about gouging. My primary job is as a banker - and the government flood insurance is a travesty. The government has decided that the banks are responsible for requiring flood insurance and even for determining if and when flood insurance is required. Argh...

[@mastermnd22]

Side hustle? You sellin crack too?

[@iironhide6209]

For myth #2, can’t you avoid the issue of first movers taking everything by using a quota system with reasonable price increases

[@nerdicusdorkum2923]

No, you can't. Super easy to exploit.

[@alastor8091]

@@nerdicusdorkum2923 wrong, but I guess in the era of people just saying whatever you don't have to be right.

[@lights473]

No because this implies that the state can centrally plan what prices and quotas are reasonable and the state cannot centrally plan anything right as demonstrated by the economic calculation problem that the legendary economist Mises famously put out which leads the state to inevitably waste resources, especially at the individual scale when all individuals are in different circumstances so those who is in need of goods the most would pay higher prices for them than those who don't need them as much because of self-valuation. You need a free market. Price gouging is a meaningless term, it's simply supply and demand. Allow the market to be free to efficiently allocate scarce means.

[@dmanwainright2132]

@@lights473 Everyone should read Mises and keep watching John Stossel!

[@iironhide6209]

@@lights473 as in like can’t a business act ethical and hold a quota system to prevent anyone from buying all the resources by being the first

[@poppylove3673]

That's why we all need to plan ahead before a crisis hits, always better to have put up some extra and have, than to not plan for an emergency, and then be at the mercy of whatever you are able to find, when things are then difficult to get.

[@freshwaterwaterfall4003]

Some questions after watching: 1.) Would federal money be better spent going to charities instead? Or would that put them in the same position as FEMA, with too much money and too little incentive? 2.) If the federal gov. shouldn't intervene directly in the post-hurricane recovery, what can it do expedite recovery/minimize damage? 3.) If FEMA is as bureaucratic and ineffective as it is, what should be done about FEMA? Would that money be better spent going to State/Local governments, or just not spent at all? 4.) We know from previous hurricanes in regions like Puerto Rico that the local/state-level gov't of PR has had trouble responding to the influx of donated supplies from other states/charities/individuals, along with mismangaging funding donations. Where does this put FEMA? How would you even go about fixing such a problem in the short-term? 5.) Would getting rid of federal flood insurance in flood-prone areas encourage people to leave from them? If getting rid of the flood insurance does encourage people to leave because there is a high likelihood of it being broken in the event of severe weather, who would buy that home at all? The home would lose a lot of its value due to no longer being backed by the federal government, right? Doesn't that leave people who live in flood-prone areas with very few options?

[@jolenewitzel7919]

Love your videos John. ❤

[@yaknow5252]

I like his honesty. Very refreshing

[@fanny2081]

Beautiful video!

[@chrisgreulich9270]

Always a joy to watch your videos. Keep the truth coming.

[@caledgerton]

Thanks for telling the truth, John! Not only in this video, but all of them. We need journalists like you!

[@harrywensel8456]

John Stossel gets better and better.

[@scotttabak6755]

A few years back there was an ice storm that knocked power out As the supplier to the civil defense dept I was told that when 2 generators were delivered to the worker he immediately called his wife to tell her he now has a generator for them

[@1pcfred]

Charity begins in the home.

[@AndyFromm]

Thanks John

[@DingandDongGo]

Im glad someone will tell The truth! Keep preaching John!

[@boholilo7740]

John Stossel is so boss. Love this guy!

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Thank you!!Ian just ripped through our FL state and they say it was the 5th worst hurricane to hit the country it if global warming was true wouldn’t it have been the worst one in history? It definitely did some of the worst damage in places like Ft Myers beach

[@sleepinggiant4062]

They claim hurricanes are increasing in "strength" because they do more property damage. But the problem is that they don't take into account the population/structures growth or inflation. The wind speed and size are not increasing, only the amount of damage they do to property because they are hitting more stuff every year at the same strength.

[@1pcfred]

Indeed there are just more potential victims today than there ever were before. So yeah the impact is going to be greater. Duh! We know earthquakes have occurred in Alaska that were 9 on the Richter scale by examining archaeological evidence. Remarkably there was no damage to life or property. That's because there was no one there when it happened.

[@raulalbertoreyesmartinez8847]

John Stossel, LEGEND!! A truly great journalist

[@aca2410]

2x price for a generator that you drove 600 miles for and rented a truck seems quite reasonable. So that’s not OK but airlines can jack up the price for people to leave these areas during crisis. They can also jack up the price during peak travel weeks or for last-minute travelers.

[@myredute]

Absolutely on the money John. And this is the problem with the self absorbed media hacks.................the BS they want us to believe to bring us on side. Keep up the good work Mr. Stossel!

[@electronmaestro]

In regards to price gouging there a difference between water bottles and generators. I would have liked to hear the counter argument to "allowing price gouging only benefits well off people and screws those without money". Why not just limit the quantity purchased like what happened to toilet paper during covid. Im sure there's a libertarian argument against these points. I would have liked to hear them.

[@rarelibra]

rationing is a must, along with checking IDs to ensure that locals can access the items and prevent people driving in from hours away to try to capitalize on the situation (which John supports in this video, unfortunately).

[@Blue-hf7xt]

People complaining about prices. They are the ones who didn’t prepare in advance. They know when hurricane season starts and ends.

[@sandyjuntunen4088]

Poor people have to make choices according to immediate need. It's something those who aren't poor really can't comprehend that.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

@@sandyjuntunen4088 I have been poor most of my life. I got free propane and butane canisters on Craigslist. Collecting rain water free from Mother Nature. There is always means resources, choices. Build your power Don’t give your power away.

[@mattdillon4398]

@@sandyjuntunen4088 Poor people never seem to run out of cigarettes, beer or drugs though. They all have expensive cell phones, cable TV and 300.00 nikes. It's about prorities. They choose to spend 300 a month on cigarettes instead of buying some bottled water and some gas and storing it a month before hurricane season. No one in America is so poor that they can't afford a couple hundred dollars a year in supplies. That's a lie and I'm sick of hearing it. I know because I was poor! The government (taxpayers) pays for everything, especially if you have kids. Food, healthcare, housing, childcare and more! The average poor person in America has more living space than the middle class in Europe! Did you know that?

[@1pcfred]

What good is a waterlogged generator going to do anyone? Those properties were completely underwater! The only way to prepare for that is to not be there at all.

[@Blue-hf7xt]

@@sandyjuntunen4088 I have been poor most of my life. Everyone has resources. Keep making people a victim and that will keep them enslaved.

[@whozyourdaddy]

I work for local government. The reason government takes so long to do anything is because it takes so long to secure the funding. There's requisition forms, purchase orders, a bidding process, approvals, signatures, and every step takes weeks and weeks of time. The project I run costs about around $50k every year. It takes nearly 6 months from the moment the purchase requisition is made to the point where we're ready to start work. The actual work itself only takes about 2 weeks or so. Now that's how it works in a city of around 400k residents. Just imagine how it works at the federal level.

[@A-Cat-in-Dogtown]

When my house burnt down 4yrs ago, the Christians, the Sikhs and the Buddhist people of China were the first ones there to help me.

[@sparty837]

I live in Texas and those that waited for the government took 5 yrs to rebuild if they ever did. I know one guy who immediately got with his contractor friends and got at the front of the line and it took him 1 yr to rebuild. It is all about locking in the labor and the supplies. I am amazed that people think their is a magic wand to fix this, it will take Florida 10yrs to rebuild.

[@johnmarks227]

Most of those folks in Fla. shouldn't rebuid. They never should have built houses on sand-based barrier islands in the first place.

[@dknowles60]

@@johnmarks227 a lot of homes were lost miles inland

[@johnmarks227]

@@dknowles60 That wasn't my point. They have been building out on those barrier islands for years and it always ends the same way no matter what state they do it in.

[@31michelle64]

Saw this after the landside on Oso, WA. FEMA ETC held up rescue efforts, possible causing more deaths, certainly delaying the clean up by months The Government "bosses" turned away skilled workers (timber workers, construction workers, road builders) from helping, waiting for the bidding process to have contracts for workers from outside the area come in and held up clean-up. It was nauseating, sad, and frustrating