Counties that have been declared disaster areas, including Johnson and Linn, are covered by the Iowa consumer protection law’s special provision against price gouging. According to the Iowa Attorney General’s office, price gouging is the practice of taking advantage of disaster victims by substantially raising the prices for needed goods or services without justification. The rule applies during the emergency declaration and "subsequent recovery period" up to six months. Link to the law (pdf).
The price-gouging rule, adopted after the 1993 flood, is aimed to prevent unjustified high prices for materials or supplies that victims of disasters may have little choice but to buy. They include, among others, housing, sanitation supplies (like porta-potties), utilities, and materials, goods, or services for clean-up or repair, such as water pumping equipment. Sellers may have reasons for increases, such as higher costs to them, so the rule’s focus is on “unreasonable” price increases.
Complaints about possible price-gouging may be brought to the Attorney General's Office—515/281-5926 in Des Moines, or toll-free at 888/777-4590. On the Web: www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.org.