BEAUMONT, Texas — Tomorrow will mark the third day of the nationwide dockworker strike, and while it won't affect Southeast Texas ports, residents could feel the effects if the strike drags on.
In wake of the the strike, essential supplies like toilet paper have been flying off the shelves of Southeast Texas grocery stores at an alarming pace.
"It's crazy! It's crazy! There's no toilet paper. People are walking around like they don't know what to do without toilet paper," said Nederland resident Kelli Kimball.
While most aisles are full, a few notable ones lie completely barren. Kimball hopes this is a trend that won't last long.
"It's crazy. It is worse than COVID, but hopefully it won't last too long. I'm just glad I got some a couple of weeks ago because you can't get any now," said Kimball.
The Beaumont HEB on Dowlen Road is no exception, it's aisles also sit, stripped bare of toilet paper and paper towels.
"It's just a madhouse, man! Stores full of people acting like the world is fixing to end," said resident Orange Williams.
Williams said he witnessed the chaos firsthand.
"People panic buying everything. All of the eggs were gone, water, bread, they're grabbing everything they can grab," said Williams.
Lamar State College economics professor Brian Lynch warns that panic buying can do more harm than good.
"Short term panic does drive the prices up, and it really doesn't help anyone out. There's a fear of missing out, a lot of it is short term. They know everyone else is buying it, so they don't want to be left out in the cold," said Lynch.
Lynch says it's not paper towels or toilet paper that people should be worried about.
"Bananas, cherries, imported chocolate. In terms of our bread, in terms of our toilet paper and paper rolls, a lot of those are already made in America, so we're not too worried about in terms of them coming to the ports," said Lynch.
While HEB did appear to be in short supply of toilet paper and paper towels, there are other stores throughout the area in ample supply. So if you need it, we ask that you buy enough for yourself and leave plenty for your neighbors.
As America waits for the outcome of the strike, Southeast Texans like Williams and Kimball plan to stay calm and hope for the best.