Fuel Shortage

[dvan1901]

Re: Fuel Shortage

The gas situation in Atlanta is out of control (I live in Northwest Atlanta, Acworth). I passed 8 stations yesterday and none of them had gas. It's a multi-part problem. 1) During hurricane Ike, lots of people from Houston made their way to Atlanta and put a strain on the system 2)they shut down the refineries for a couple days and it takes a while to get them back online and up to full production 3)ATL has and EPA restriction that runs through September, but that has since been lifted so we can use other gas now 4)People are filling up more frequentlythan they normally do becuase of fear; more people are filling up when they have half a tank of gas which causes a strain too

I'm not sure why the city is taking so long to get shipments from other cities in, but the 3 stations that I did see that had gas had lines a half mile long each.

 

[eavega]

Re: Fuel Shortage

I got lucky enough to catch the local Racetrac with gas (Off of GA 400 and McFarland for anyone looking. They seem to have gas every day in the morning). $3.99 a gallon, but I have waited in longer lines to gas up at Costco when they had cheap fuel. That having been said, I have seen lines up to a half mile long to get into a gas station in my area. Stations that are off of the highway are backing up onto the off-ramps. I used to live down in Florida, and have lived through a few hurricanes, and have not seen a situation like this. In fact, I haven't seen lines like this since I was a kid in the back of my parent's car during the oil embargo days of the 70's. What surprises me is that this shortage has not made more news. I have friends in AZ and FL that are surprised to learn that there is a severe crisis in some parts of the south with lack of gas.

-E

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Fuel Shortage

Based on this thread it seems the shortage is only impacting a few states in the South East which is confusing to say the least. I am so glad I can run E85. No lines at all and the price is still $3.49.

Now if my boat could run it I would be good to go. I just grabbed 2 5 gallon cans and I keep them in the truck so if I pass a station that has gas I fill them up and add them to the boat. 3 more trips and she will be full.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Fuel Shortage

Hang in the fellow south-easterners! I think we in the Nashville area were the first to have this problem and by mid week last week our problems sorted out -- finally the majority of our stations have at least one grade of gas. Hopefully you only have a couple of more days of it yourselves.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Fuel Shortage

Hang in the fellow south-easterners! I think we in the Nashville area were the first to have this problem and by mid week last week our problems sorted out -- finally the majority of our stations have at least one grade of gas. Hopefully you only have a couple of more days of it yourselves.

Actually, the reports are saying more like two more weeks for the Atlanta area.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Fuel Shortage

I would say it lasted about a week and a half for us. The governor kept saying a couple of more days, the press kept saying two more weeks. By last Friday things were significantly better after being pathetic for over one week. Hopefully it will be sooner than the worst case scenario press is leading you all to believe.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: Fuel Shortage

I would say it lasted about a week and a half for us. The governor kept saying a couple of more days, the press kept saying two more weeks. By last Friday things were significantly better after being pathetic for over one week. Hopefully it will be sooner than the worst case scenario press is leading you all to believe.

I remain optimistic also, but this is the 3rd week of passing stations with blanked out prices (signifying no gas) or car lines that extend into road traffic for stations that have gas.

There is one station I pass on the way to work that has had gas (and waiting lines with barricades around the station) since this whole debacle began (QT @ 41 and Allgood in Marietta). It's the only station I pass that has had any gas for the past week. This morning, it had a blanked out sign, and no lines. It's eerie. I counted the stations I pass on the way into work - 8, and they're all out.

And to top it off, my 401K just took a nosedive today with the Dow dropping 770 pts. Good times.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Fuel Shortage

I find this amazing that I have not heard a word about this outside of the forum.
You would think that this situation in a major metropolis would have hit the national press. I watch local news every morning - not even a quick blurb.
I wonder if it is being surpressed for some political reason(s).

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Fuel Shortage

It's amazing how out of touch our Governor (Purdue) seems to be on this. He's been in Europe for over a week now, and has said several times that the entire problem was brought about by motorists who panicked (something like the "mental recession" remark from another politician). I've got news for Mr. Purdue, when I can't find the fuel I need to get to work I start to become concerned.

So far I haven't seen any improvement - only one station that I passed this morning had gas, with an extremely long line blocking one lane of traffic. But what's REALLY ticking me off is that my son and I are missing out on some great fishing weather (because I'm afraid of the whuppin' I'd get if I pulled into a gas station pulling a boat right now).

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: Fuel Shortage

It's amazing how out of touch our Governor (Purdue) seems to be on this. He's been in Europe for over a week now, and has said several times that the entire problem was brought about by motorists who panicked (something like the "mental recession" remark from another politician). I've got news for Mr. Purdue, when I can't find the fuel I need to get to work I start to become concerned.

So far I haven't seen any improvement - only one station that I passed this morning had gas, with an extremely long line blocking one lane of traffic. But what's REALLY ticking me off is that my son and I are missing out on some great fishing weather (because I'm afraid of the whuppin' I'd get if I pulled into a gas station pulling a boat right now).

Sorry to get so off topic in the "Boat topics and questions" forum, but ditto on Perdue. 32 of the 38 Texas refineries are back online (last time I checked). It just takes about 10 days for gas to get here.

Sonny Perdue is going to ask Washington to tap the Federal Oil Reserve to help ease the shortage. Only problem is, oil shortage isn't causing the problem. Refinery capacity is. Pandering politicians.....

On a positive note, 3 stations had gas on the way to work this morning - one with no lines! My wife followed a tanker to a station this morning and filled up for the first time (at a station) in 3 weeks. Could be getting better.... we'll see.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Fuel Shortage

But what's REALLY ticking me off is that my son and I are missing out on some great fishing weather (because I'm afraid of the whuppin' I'd get if I pulled into a gas station pulling a boat right now).

Call the marina and check with them. During Middle Tennessee's whole crisis none of the marinas ran out of gas, just the gas stations on the way there. If you can get your boat to water and back, I would bet you can gas up there.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Fuel Shortage

I just drove by 16 gas stations today, no gas. I'm at about 1/8 of a tank!

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Fuel Shortage

It amazes me that an industry that makes such immense profit has such pathetic business continuity plans in place.

The other scary thing of course is how it illustrates how our entire civilization is just that close to complete breakdown.

The big power failure that hit Canada and the northeast US a few years ago was another nasty shock. Plenty of gas in the stations...just no power to pump it out. I remember heading out of town looking for a station with power. Found one finally and coasted in on fumes. Creeped me right out.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Fuel Shortage

It all stems from just one pipe line that comes out of Houston TX.
It supplies Birmingham Al,Up thru Atlanta,then Charlotte and ends in New Jersey.
The news said tonight the pipeline is just now up to 100% but will take some time to fill the tank farms up the line.
I hit 6 stations today before i found some.....been needing lawn mower gas for days...
I need to fill my 80 gallon boat tank but i better wait before i try...may get shot or robbed...lol!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Fuel Shortage

My sister lives in Atlanta and said it was pretty bad for a while but getting better.

I am in Northern Indiana and gas got down to $3.60 yesterday, funny how that works.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fuel Shortage

No problems with supplies here. Filled up the truck and 1/2 a tank in the boat yesterday at $3.31 a gallon and falling

 

[eavega]

Re: Fuel Shortage

This morning it seems we are at the beginning of the end of this crisis. I passed at least 9 gas stations, and all but two had gas, and none had lines out of the parking lot. A couple actually had idle pumps!

-Eric

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: Fuel Shortage

This morning it seems we are at the beginning of the end of this crisis. I passed at least 9 gas stations, and all but two had gas, and none had lines out of the parking lot. A couple actually had idle pumps!

-Eric

Only 2 stations had gas on my way in this morning, but no lines at either. I pulled right up to a pump and filled up (at $3.97/gal). In Rome it's $4.29/gal! Glad I don't live there.

Anyone from Charlotte to report on their situation? My buddy up there made it sound like they have it as bad we do.