Katrina Aftermath: Ga. Gas Shortages?

[Roland99]

http://wsbradio.com/news/083105gasshortages3a.html

(WSB Radio) -- The two main pipelines that provide gasoline to Georgia are expecting Katrina related shortages in the coming days.

Colonial Pipeline and Plantation Pipeline suffered damage to refineries in Louisiana and Mississippi that may prevent the companies from pumping gasoline and diesel through their lines in the southeast.

There are concerns that the situation could lead to gas shortages in metro Atlanta.

The companies are also the sole providers of jet fuel to Hartsfield-Jackson.

State to Wave Gas Regulations
http://wsbradio.com/news/083005govgas.html

(WSB Radio) -- Governor Perdue has announced that the State of Georgia is waving certain gasoline regulations to help minimize gas price hikes and supply issues in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is waiving state requirements for higher additive gasoline required during the summer months until September 15. Waiving this requirement will allow gasoline suppliers to bring available gasoline into Georgia to help alleviate shortages and keep prices to a minimum.

"While the state's requirement for cleaner burning gasoline is an important part of the plan to improve air quality in metropolitan Atlanta, this emergency has occurred late in the smog season and easing our requirements will help ensure an adequate supply of gasoline for Georgians," says EPD Director Carol Couch.

The Governor's Office and EPD will work with suppliers to bring available gas to the state as quickly as possible and to ensure that prices reflect its lower cost.

[Shadder]

1. $2.69 last night

My son and I walked over to the corner last night to check the price. I'd bet that it's higher now.

[Roland99]

2. Prices won't be much of a concern if they RUN OUT OF GAS!

;)

[Shadder]

13. Which is exactly why

we we went out and filled up our gas cans with extra gas to have on hand just in case we need it and are already limiting out trips to short distances - within town - and only going out for nessessary items such as food.

Better to be safe and ready

[yellowcanine]

3. $2.96 for regular now in Southern Maryland. Up 30 cents since Katrina.

[TroglodyteScholar]

4. I wonder how prices are being determined right now..

For the past several weeks, the variation in price from one gas station to the next hasn't been any more than 3 or 4 cents...that's about normal. Today I went to gas up...and the Shell station was charging $2.89 for regular unleaded. Across the street, one of the cheapo budget gas places had it priced at $2.63. I thought maybe they just hadn't changed their sign yet, so I drove about a half mile down the street. BP regular gas was $2.89 and, directly across the street, Conoco gas was $2.67. Are some sellers just panicking more quickly than others? Those are really big price differences, and I really don't understand it.

[Sub Atomic]

5. What chafes my ass about this

is that I live in San Diego. Nothing happened to our refineries out here in California. Our supply chain will not be affected.

But goddamnit, our prices are rising just like everyone else's.

When our refineries here in Southern California go down, our prices rise, but they don't rise all over the country.

[TroglodyteScholar]

6. It'll be interesting to see oil companies post record profits again...

I have a feeling that much of the rise in gas prices isn't due to supply at all, but instead caused by the only actual planning this administration ever actually participated in. I think they probably had a number of objectives from the start, all meant to increase revenues for their oil cronies. Just a theory...but when things like this happen, you really have to look at who benefits.

[Delphinus]

7. We had two stations

here in NE Indiana that were out of gas today. One was out of diesel the other was out of regular and diesel.

Prices (this morning) were $2.73 for regular. They waited until yesterday to go up.

[TroglodyteScholar]

8. Holy shit...

I just got word that my city (Macon, Georgia) won't have any more gasoline after stations sell what they currently have. There's a run on it, basically...just talked to a buddy who said there were like 40 people in a gas station yelling at the attendant and freaking out and shit. This is bad bad news....

[12345]

9. I hear from a gas station in western NC that they'll be out by tomorrow.

Also hear that it's pretty widespread.

[Cicero]

11. Similar rumors about Charlotte, NC

...will run out by tomorrow and won't get any more for a couple of days...

Hmph.

Later,

[htuttle]

22. Yup

Just heard from a BP station manager in WI that "the terminal is out of gas", so they can't get anymore either.

It will be more widespread very soon -- by this weekend.

[Eloriel]

10. Uh oh. A gas station in my area (rural W GA) is already out

I didn't think TOO much about this until this additional bit of info.

Oh boy. Here we go, folks.

[CottonBear]

12. Gas station lines all over the Athens, GA area.

I was in Racetrac in Oconee, County and the place was packed. The clerks were fielding calls about gas supplies. I still think it's part of the RW radio rumoutrmill until officially confirmed. Just in case, I filled up anyway since I was on empty.

[slamthecrank]

15. whoa!!

I was in Oconee County this morning, and i had the same experience. Cars lined up all over. The RW radio around these parts is ridiculous!!

So glad to know that i'm not alone in this Bible Belt craziness.

:hi:

[CottonBear]

16. Hiya! I live in Blue Athens but work in Red Oconee.

What are you doing in our neck of the woods? Do you go to school at UGA? BTW, I love NYC! (I see you're from NYC.)

My office manager still thinks the rationing is real but can provide no actual links to real news. In any case, folks are freaking out.
Snopes link:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/katrina.asp

Enjoy your time in lovely NE GA. The weather is great today. :hi:

[slamthecrank]

24. hey neighbor

I'm a studio musician and am doing some work in your neck o' the woods. But, I grew up not far from here - in Clemson (SC), and did a lot of traveling the past few years as a band-dude for some alt-country players. But, yeah, Oconee County is a beautiful area, unfortunately full of red-staters. Ugh. NE GA weather is making me want to stay through the fall. But, hey, NYC in the fall is the shit, so I'm torn.

So, nice to meet you!!

(secretary where i was working today in Atlanta was giving us the "lowdown" on gas rationing, and my first thought was "did you check snopes?"..heh, great minds think alike, eh?)

[TroglodyteScholar]

14. Update...

I scoped out the situation after my last post...every gas station I went to (even one out in the boonies) had lines, and this is before people even get off from work. I filled up early this morning for $2.67, and spent $2.99 filling my gas cans this afternoon. I heard that Gov. Purdue has relaxed the state's gasoline standards in order to increase the potential supply. I think neighboring states are acting similarly. This is crazy...I have never seen anything like it before (was born in 1980, so I missed the shortage in the 70's)...

I'm about to call my mom in Mobile and see how things are going down there. Will post more later......

[CottonBear]

17. Thanks. Things are strange. I think there's massive price gouging. n/t

[CottonBear]

18. See today's state and gas price post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4529619

[toopers]

19. Local ATL news says that there will not be a shortage.

Which is probably true unless everyone panics and rushes to the stations to fill up. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy -- like what happens to milk and other groceries right before a snow storm.

[TroglodyteScholar]

20. Hm..I just read in another thread...

...that Atlanta is experiencing a run...$3.55 minimum price on gas, and places are limiting people to $10 per visit. I'm in Macon, GA...and I overheard someone saying they were in line at a gas station behind a guy who bought 250 gallons (!)...

Did all this panic and hysteria in fact begin on right-wing talk radio? That would not be surprising..

[Iris]

21. I just duped this topic - here is my experience from 30 minutes ago:

Cars are lining up and waiting in line for hours to fill up on $3.50+ gallons of gas here in metro Atlanta. I tried to go down to my local gas station and the street was backed up for blocks. There were 3 police cars in the turn lane with the officers standing next to them directing traffic into the 2 gas stations on the block - both with cars streaming out from all sides.

Damn - this is a time when I wish I had a camera phone.

The Governor has requested citizens to cancel their Labor Day travel plans.

http://www.wsbtv.com/money/4919369/detail.html

[hullbert]

23. Lots o' confusion...

I don't think the local and national news agencies are helping any. Every news outlet and local paper says something different about gas shortages. Nobody knows what's a rumor anymore, and I'm starting to get the feeling that the gas companies are being purposely vague because they don't really know when the refineries will get pumping again. On a side note, at least one gas station in Madison County, Ga on Hwy 72 is out of gas, and all of the gas stations in the county have huge lines.

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

25. FL Gas scene

I heard word Orlando is out of gas. I have been noticing around Tampa almost all stations are out of gas! :scared: