Shreveport Residents Start Panic Buying at Grocery Stores
SHREVEPORT, LA - The panic is on. Folks all around Shreveport and Bossier are rushing out to stores to buy essentials. This is the result of the strike by more than 40,000 port workers around the country.
There is concern we could be facing a shortage of goods in the next few weeks if this strike lasts very long.
We are getting reports from several stores around the area of big crowds filling up baskets with items we don't want to run out of. This dock worker strike really has peope worried.
The dock workers are asking for a pay increase of 77% and a ban on many automation tools.
READ MORE: Why did dock workers walk off the job.
Some local residents say they were starting to see some empty shelves this morning.
What Are People Buying?
As you can see in these photos from the Sam's Club store on Youree Drive, people are loading their buggies with paper towels and toilet paper. That's where I think this is so funny because most of the companies that make these paper products like Kimberly Clarke and Georgia Pacific are in the United States and these kinds of goods rarely arrive at our ports. They are generally shipped on trucks.
Seriously, think about that. You are panic buying things that are made in the U.S.
I might understand big tubs of coffee and other things shipped from other parts of the world, but I just don't get this panic buying of paper products. You guys better promise to share if I run out. But I'm pretty sure I will be fine.