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.

South Georgia gas pump investigation resolved

A lawyer for the owners of two south Georgia truck stops says the facilities did not rig gas pumps that shorted customers gasoline. Last month, state agriculture officials stepped-in to close two Cisco Travel Plazas on Interstate-95. Officials said customers were getting a quart less for every five gallons bought. The truck stops' lawyer says vandalism to gas pumps is the reason customers got less gas than what they bought. The station owners paid the state 250-thousand dollars in fines--other fines will be waived if there are no problems for two years.