Gas Shortage Continues in the South, Frustrating Locals

By Anastacia Mott Austin

At first, it may have seemed like an unpleasant inconvenience. But when gasoline shortages caused long lines at stations and prompted "No gas" signs to be posted, and dragged on week after week, people started losing their patience.

"At first I was a good sport, but this is getting ridiculous," said Georgian Marsha Lewis, to reporters at The New York Times. "I drive an hour to work every day, and looking for gasoline has become my entire life."

She’s not alone.

Charlotte, North Carolina mayor Pat McCrory received this email, typical of hundreds he has gotten in recent weeks: "We have a gas crisis!" wrote the annoyed constituent. "Do you exist?"

Drivers in parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina have been hardest hit, with communities forced into taking measures like cancelling classes, closing public offices, and encouraging employees to work from home as the crisis lingered.

When hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit the Gulf Coast, refineries along the coast, which supply the majority of the Southeast states, shut down. Though many have reopened as power was restored, some suffered flood damage and may not be up to full power for weeks. So while some gasoline is flowing back to consumers, full capacity is still several weeks out.

Exacerbating the problem are anxious drivers who, when they do find gas, naturally want to fill their tanks as full as possible. Normal supply and demand patterns have been altered as everyone wants a full tank of gas…now.

"You hear stories about tankers pulling into gas stations and people are already waiting, and they have half a tank," said Dr. Kenneth B. Medlock, one of Houston’s energy experts at Rice University. "It’s akin to hoarding."

Tempers are running short as drivers search endlessly for stations that still have gas (and some of those folks run out of gas while they’re looking), and then wait as long as an hour or more to fill up. Police have gotten involved to monitor some stations, or to moderate when fights break out over who was in line first.

"It's a panic," said Atlanta gas station owner Ray Sheffield, who had to close his station early for the first time in 13 years because he was out of gas. "We are frustrated."

Some stations have been accused of price gauging, taking advantage of the desperate need. Prices have soared as high as $4.10 per gallon, much higher than the national average. Audits of gas stations are being conducted, and investigations will continue to discover if they are taking advantage of the increased desperation of consumers.

Last week the shortage had people cancelling plans to travel anywhere for the weekend, fearing they would either not make it to their destinations or not be able to get back home afterward. "I don't have any assurance that I'm going to even be able to get more than $30 worth of gas," said Wendy Stewart, 37, to local reporters in Raleigh, after cancelling plans to take a trip over the weekend. "How am I going to get out of town and drive five hours on $30 of gas? I can't do it."

Things are feeling even more drastic for people with long commutes, or who need to pick up children from daycare. Day-to-day needs are being compromised, and people are worried.

Said one driver to reporters, "No gas. What will we do? We won't be able to do anything. We can't go to work. We can't do anything."

Added another driver waiting in line at a station in Asheville, North Carolina, "It’s been a nightmare for everybody."