Here we are getting ready to drive down from VA to the suburbs of Atlanta to do the final move-out on a house we expect to close on 9/9. Last night I read a diary on dKos by dbratl reporting on panic gas buying in Atlanta. This morning there are reports that the Gov. in NC is asking people to conserve because of shortages and that gas stations in TN are closing because they are sold out. Good Lord, folks! Is the rolling thunder of America’s interstates about to grind to a halt?!
I realize our dilemma pales in comparison to the hell Katrina survivors are going thru. So I’m certainly not asking for sympathy. Instead, I’d like this thread to be a pool of info on gas availability up and down the eastern US. Are the reports of shortages just rumor-mongering? Are there long lines where you live or does everything appear to be okay?
Bottom Line: Is there enough gas along I-85 for us to get to Atlanta and back?!
Hubby instructed me to buy 3 jerry cans and fill ’em up to take with us just in case. It occurs to me that by so doing I may be part of panic buying here in VA. Well, at least we won’t be hoarding; we really do need the gas this weekend.
So now I’m off to find out about my local situation and will report back later.
I stopped for gas yesterday (topping off the tank while it was still 2.65), and there was a little longer than usual line. That might have been because the station across the street was already up to 2.79 a gallon.
The area (SE PA) high price has hit 3.39. I’m thinking about filling up my can for the lawnmower again, just in case…
I’m not there, of course, but I have been reading about the pipelines that are down and both of them seem to be impacting your area (eastern seaboard) the most….because we don’t have strong leadership on this everyone is speculating adn trying to cover their butts. It seems that they don’t really have any idea when those pipelines will reopen.
Good luck with your trip and let us know what you see on your travels!
This morning my local station in the western burbs of Syracuse had no regular gas. Although it was my impression this would be short-lived, since as soon as I departed, a tanker truck pulled in behind me.
I filled my car yesterday here in Raleigh….$3.19 per gallon and rising. The local media are reporting stations running out. The governor has asked people to conserve gas and don’t rush out to fill your tank…so of course everyone did. He is asking people to “rethink your Labor Day weekend plans”…which means “don’t drive down to the beach.”
Well, no one carries jerry “cans” anymore so I had to go a couple of places to find three 5 gal. plastic gas containers. As I’m coming up to the check-out at Lowe’s with two of them, a distinguished-looking black dude shakes his head sadly and says to me, “So, the hoarding begins…” I explained our need to travel to Atlanta and get back and he says, “Good grief, good luck with that. Now, do you know who to blame?” I reply, “King George,” without hesitation. And he high-fives me saying, “Right on, sista.” Damn, no black man has said that to me in like 30 years; that was trippy.
Gas in Lynchburg is $2.99/gal. I saw no lines at any service stations I passed and felt slightly criminal filling up the containers in the back of my PT. Now, my car reeks and the whole drive down to Atlanta, we will not be able to smoke in the car. Yarg!
A Google News search shows that Colonial Pipeline had to go out and lease some diesel generators to start the pipeline back up and it will be delivering 35% by Saturday so hopefully, we should have fewer problems getting gas by Monday when we return. Still, my mind boggles at the idea that Colonial doesn’t own generators and have them in place just as a stand-by. Or, why didn’t they think about getting generators before yesterday? Hmmm… maybe so some guy in Stockbridge, GA could charge $5.59/gal?
Hey, Gov. Perdue, go arrest that guy for price gouging and while you’re out swing by and pick up the CEO at Colonial. I’m going to keep my eye on how much profit Colonial rakes in from their, um, oversight in maintaining their distribution network.