I run a business flipping houses and remodeling rental properties. I was talking to the owner of the electrical supply house in our county yesterday and he told me they sold the last 200 amp meter base they had in stock the day before. They were probably one of the last stores in Tennessee that had any in stock. You can't build a house without one.
He also told me our power company has been removing transformers that are feeding barns or workshops. They don't have any spares to fix broken transformers in residential areas so they are stealing them from places that affect the fewest people. They haven't received any new transformers in several months.
The areas affected by the tornados last week are calling utility companies everywhere trying to find transformers and poles to repair the damage but there are very many spares left. He said if that storm had hit our county, he didn't think we would have the parts to get the power turned back on any time soon.
Crazy times ahead.
I work for a fairly large hardware store this is what we are seeing. R-board wont be able to get any till April or may, sheetrock will be tough to get, propane tanks hahaha almost non-existent, wiring,breaker boxes, conduit have been tough, pipe, schedule 40, drain and sewer and fittings, Chlorine, bromine, insulation, batteries of all types, lumber has been better recently, steel coil and steel roofing having issues, appliances hit and miss, windows and doors are months, Shower units also months, oh and buy your lawn mower or snowblower now! They gone too.