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And some consumers say they are already feeling the hurricane ripping through their pockets.
That's because price gouging is real when shoppers are desperate to start stockpiling supplies and business owners exploit that need. Here's what happened on San Pedro:
Andre Perez, Minister of the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management
"That was a big subject that we just had a meeting with the entire management team here. That was a big issue. Not only were the price of bread that was being sold at $5 and it was a regular sized 16 ounce loaf, it looks like the receipt shows that it is $5. I don't want to aim or isolate that specific business location, but we have been aware of this specific location actually having high prices of these."
"So certainly we're looking at it not only with food prices, but also the issue of certainly scrupulous business people and hardware stores selling the plywood, I think the half inch has been going for at a $110, ridiculous prices. What we are saying and we were meeting that we do not have any space which type of business."
"I think these are scrupulous businesses that take advantage of our community when in fact it is our community that gives them the opportunity to do business in our San Pedro and Ambergis Caye and by extension Caye Caulker as well. And that's uncalled for. It's illegal as well, of course, to do that. But also it's unethical man, you don't do that to our communities that is needy at the same time."
