As usual, during the recent hurricanes, there have been accusations of gouging (contrasted with accusations of price-fixing during normal times), and demands for investigations, charges, and price controls against oil companies.
Higher prices during an emergency are the free market's version of rationing - it encourages people to make do with less, which means supply lasts longer and more people can get at least some of it. Highest prices in one area (e.g. areas hit by the hurricanes) also help direct more of the existing supply there from other areas that do not need it as desperately. If a situation lasts for more than a short time, those higher prices also encourage more production to fulfill the demand.
Price controls just guarantee shortages. It does so, because it encourages many people to buy more than they need (leaving none for many others) while at the same time suppressing the profit motive that would cause supply to go where it is most needed (and thus most profitable) - in fact supply is driven out of a price-controlled area in favour of any place free of the controls. Government then often compounds the problem through rationing - exactly what the free market and profit motive would've done far more quickly and efficiently if left alone.
The emergency area needs as much of various resources it can get - not only gas but building supplies, food, fresh water, etc. High prices frees up these resources in areas outside the emergency area (people use less) and even higher prices in the emergency area draw in those resources and at the same time ensure people there buy the minimum needed, thereby maximizing distribution to as many as possible.
