Alabama's attorney general and other law enforcement officials vow to crack down on people, businesses who prey on tornado victims.

As hurting people pick up the pieces of their lives in the wake of the deadly tornadoes that struck Alabama last week, there are sure to be scammers and predators lurking in the shadows, waiting to come out.
Fortunately, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and area police departments and district attorneys are alert and ready to intervene.
As people begin repairing or rebuilding homes or even buying the staples needed for day-to-day living, scam artists and price gougers are a good bet to close in. Alabama isn't unique; such happens after just about any disaster anywhere.
Fortunately, Alabama has good laws to discourage such activity. Once the governor has declared a state of emergency, and Gov. Robert Bentley promptly did that last week, it's illegal to charge more than 25 percent more for goods or services than the average price in the 30 days previous. Of course, there's an exception if the higher prices can be justified because the seller's cost has gone up that much.
Generally, most people don't have to worry about price gouging in the immediate days after a disaster like the tornado outbreak. Generous people donate money, clothes, food, water, toiletries and other items freely. But for those who have to buy supplies to repair a bad roof or rain-damaged room, there are unscrupulous business people who jack up prices, trying to make an extra buck off somebody's misfortune.
In the coming days and weeks, tornado victims will start receiving insurance checks and looking for companies to repair or rebuild their homes.
Though it may be difficult to wait, patience is the best advice. With so much destruction statewide, there will be strong demand for contractors and home-repair people. Many companies will come to Alabama from elsewhere, and most of them will be legitimate. Be careful in choosing a company, though. Make sure it is bonded or insured and that it has a license. Do not pay much up front, either. Legitimate companies understand they'll get full payment when a job is finished.
Other companies are looking for fast money, and they don't care who they hurt to get it. They'll seek payment up front, then skip town and leave a job undone.
The laws are tough enough against both price gouging and home-repair fraud, but there has to be tough enforcement. Strange and police are pledging zero-tolerance, and that's as it should be.
Report any problems to the AG's Office of Consumer Protection at 1-800-392-5658 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-800-392-5658      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or through the attorney general's web page at www.ago.alabama.gov.