Motorists fuming over continuing gas shortages

A sign of the times at a pump on West Paces Ferry Road in Atlanta on Sept 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Gas lines were long and patience short across Atlanta over the weekend – that is, when there was gas to be had at all. Dave Bender drove from midtown to Marietta, and spoke with motorists at stations along the way.

“It’s crazy – there’s no gas anywhere; North Carolina through Texas…”

That’s Brian, a motorist from New Mexico who’s driving across the southeast.

But right he’s sitting at a station with empty gas pumps on West Paces Ferry Road. That’s a scene echoed throughout the metro Atlanta area.

“…they’ll let you have ten bucks of gas at some places; there’s a lot of this: ‘Sorry – we’re out of gas – you can see the sign’s right there.’”

Suppliers say that’s because they’re still struggling to get enough fuel to gas stations, from Gulf Coast refineries hit by hurricanes weeks ago.

One of the few stations that is open this Sunday afternoon is in Marietta.

Some 200 motorists lining up at a Kroger gas station in Marietta, Ga., on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

And station clerk Joel Freley, says the fill-up swarm is keeping his register spinning:

“I made over almost $2,000 in three hours.”

Some 200 vehicles are idling in several lines to get to his eight pump islands – with more desperate drivers pulling in all the time.

One of them is Margaret Batts, who’s hoping to reach the pumps before they shut down for the day:

“Now they only have 400 gallons, so there’s no guarantee I’m even going to get any.”

James Cook of Marietta is sitting ten cars in front of her:

"I have a [Ford] Explorer, this gas tank, and a two gallon gas tank -- yeah, and I don't care what anybody's got to say about it."

Cook almost lost his cool when he thought the car in front of him had drained the last drop:

“He said the tank was outta’ gas, and I’ve been sitting here forever – driving around for three hours looking for gas. I would have flipped out if that was the case.”

Suppliers and state officials are telling drivers like Cook to be patient: it’ll likely take a few more weeks before fuel supplies are replenished.

Lining up at the pump in Marietta, on Sunday, Sept., 28, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the gas shortage.

Atlanta: Pain at the pump

Motorist fills up Hummer at a station in midtown Atlanta. (file/Dave Bender)

Gas stations in parts of Georgia and the South continue to run out fuel as worried drivers keep filling their tanks. The problem is especially bad in Atlanta.

It’s a hit and miss situation in Atlanta for people who need gas. Long lines form as soon as a station gets a delivery and empties out within hours. Eric Rockcliff who has a Ford Expedition stays in close contact with friends these days:

“I set my alarm to 2:45 am and headed out look for gas. “

Rockcliff got up at 3 am one night and found gas in his neighborhood. Through networking and texting with friends he knew that QT stations were likely to have gas:

“The one closest to my house, even at 3 am line down the street in both directions.”

Rockcliff knew of another QT down the street and got lucky… no lines.

This hit and miss situation, officials say, is caused by a shortage of supply from gulf refineries still reeling from hurricane shut downs. They warn it could be a couple of weeks before things are back to normal.

Officials blame slow supply from gulf refineries still working to get up to full capacity after 2 hurricanes this season.

Click here for more GPB News reports about the gas crisis.

Gas shortages still widespread

Motorist fills up Hummer at a station in midtown Atlanta, Sept. 22, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Gas stations in much of the southeast are having a tough time getting enough fuel. Many have temporarily closed, and cars lined up at the pump are a not uncommon sight.

Atlanta, Nashville, and Tallahassee, are among other cities in the region, reporting closures or limited fuel supplies.

Motorist Tate Nichols, who lives in Atlanta suburb Stone Mountain, says he’s seen the biggest problems in town:

“Generally, out in my area, I haven’t had any problem finding gas - I have, in midtown today run across a couple of empty stations that do not have gas - but I found one within two minutes of looking that did have gas.”

State and industry officials say one factor behind the shortage are interrupted supplies from refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. Many closed for the duration of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

And, an Atlanta law requiring stations to use cleaner-burning fuel means gas can't be easily diverted from better-supplied areas.

Governor Sonny Perdue and other officials here say they expect fuel supplies to return to normal later this week.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the gas crisis.

Gas supplies limited

When it comes to filling up with gas these days it's a mixed bag. People in some parts of the state have ample supplies, while others are waiting in line to fill up their tanks, In some cases stations are running out.

People in Georgia get their gas from different places. Gas in Savannah comes in at the port, while gas in places like Macon, Augusta, and Atlanta comes from pipelines. Those pipelines are fed by refineries in Louisiana and Texas. Some refineries remain shut down in the wake of two recent hurricanes.

Refineries should come back on line over the next few weeks, but for now supplies are tight. Jim Tudor is with the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores. He says consumers can help by not topping off their tanks.

"If you have three-quarters of a tank of gas, and you pass three gas stations and you automatically feel the need that you've got to go fill up that quarter of a tank just to feel better, that creates real challenges in the marketplace because it's never been designed that everybody can go around with a full tank of gas."

The state is trying to help out by allowing more fuel to be brought in to Atlanta, increasing the number of hour's gas haulers can be on the road, and allowing them to deliver heavier loads.

Perdue may call in feds over gas gouging

The dramatic spike in gas prices from Hurricane Ike has prompted The Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) to investigate hundreds of complaints of price gouging at the pump.

Officials have issued subpoenas for sales records of 25 gas stations statewide, and say more are on the way.

Bill Cloud, the director of administration and external affairs at the OCA says they've received over 700 complaints since Governor Sonny Perdue imposed an anti-gouging law last Friday.

But, Perdue says the skyrocketing numbers at the pump weren't only due to decisions by station owners :

"...[they] were the prices that some of the stations were having to pay up the line, and we're trying to investigate where that began and why, and what steps we should take – that probably would be outside of the purview of the State of Georgia, and while I’m a free-market guy, I certainly think it bears investigation by our federal government."

Perdue says Valdosta and Augusta were having the worst problems statewide in getting fuel from refineries knocked out by last week's hurricane.

Perdue and OCA officials, though, say the situation is improving and expect supply to be back to normal next week.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the gas crisis, and here for more on Hurricane Ike.

Gas Stations in NW Georgia Limiting Fuel Purchases

Several leading fuel analysts believe gas prices will return to pre-Hurricane Ike levels beginning Tuesday. These predictions are based on returning supply as oil production gets back online in the Houston area.

However, in parts of Georgia, some gas station owners in Georgia say they expect new fuel supplies next week.

One east Rome gas station owner says "We just don't have the gas to last much longer."

Many stations in the Rome area are limiting purchases to five gallons. Most stations in the area are charging 3.99 a gallon.

Hurricane Ike is already being dubbed the forgotten storm. While damage to refineries has been lighter than expected, the total cost of Ike is projected to be over 22 billion dollars.

Meanwhile, criticism of FEMA is mounting as residents try to return home after Ike.

Lanier at record lowest seasonal level

Lake Lanier. Click on the map for a full-sized image. (Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Hurricane Ike and other recent storms that've swept the region didn't leave as much water behind in Lake Lanier as water officials had hoped. In fact, it's the lowest Lanier has even been for this time of year.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials says that while tropical storm Fay did bring up the level to just over 1055 feet, that's still 17 feet below normal full pool - 1,071 feet.

In addition, officials say they’re expecting a dry winter.

Click here for more GPB News ongoing drought coverage.