This gas "shortage" situation is getting very scary

[Sonicmedusa]

I live in Asheville, and there is no gas to to be found. IF you do find it, you are in line for hours to get it.

I have less than a quarter tank of gas now and my daughter, who is staying with me, is due to give birth in a week. I am not going to work tomorrow to save gas. We were hoping to tour the hospital's birthing unit on Thursday evening. If I have no gas when she goes into labor, will the police drive us to the hospital? An ambulance?

Anyone else having problems with this gas "shortage"?

[Marie26]

1. Same here

At least 2/3 of gas stations closed in Charlotte - hasn't improved any since Hurricane Ike.

[think4yourself]

2. ATL, here

It's kind of spotty. I got a fill-up on Monday, luckily. These are strange times and I'm sick of it.

[ellaydubya]

7. What is up with this???

I, too, find it very strange. I live in Dallas- no problems here. I have friends in the Houston area, still recovering from Hurricane Ike, and they seem to have a gas supply, once the electricity has been turned on. Something else is going on we are not aware of, I believe. Remember, it is election time....I would think a lot of things might be being kept from us Americans.

[Lint Head]

3. More oil derricks were destroyed during Katrina and there was no

gas shortage. Something is fishy. I think we are being held as hostages until the Congress says uncle and drills in ANWAR. :dem:

[Sonicmedusa]

5. I am thinking the same thing

They know they are losing ground in the south. This is to drum support from the "Drill, baby, drill" crowd.

[Canuckistanian]

12. It's the refineries, not the oil wells

I think there were more inland refineries damaged by Ike.

Oil supply can be replaced fairly quickly.

Lose a refinery and you're cutting off the gas supply for a while.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

13. No. It's not an ANWR thing.

The reason for the shortage is the refinery pipeline supply has been disrupted and there was not an established conduit for trucking the gas in to the affected areas.

[carlyhippy]

4. no lines here in the upper midwest

but I did fill up this afternoon after reading about gas lines in other places,just in case.

[tammywammy]

6. No shortages here, or gas lines

North Texas. :shrug:

[Marie26]

8. How bizarre

Why would there be gas shortages in NC & none in TX? Are they supplied by different pipelines or something?

[tammywammy]

14. That's what I would assume. nt

[dgibby]

15. yes

the shortage affects the southeast states that are supplied by the Colonial pipeline-starts in one of the gulf states and moves up through the southeast.

Cnn is reporting that shortages should ease in the next few days.

[rucky]

9. I'd get three or four rides lined up.

And congrats!

[Terry in Austin]

10. It's a "preview" for those who are "paying" attention

Right now, we assume that "cars" are a "given" and take for granted the "availability" of gasoline. In a couple of years, never mind how "expensive" the stuff is, the chronic issue will be whether you'll be able to get it at all. Expect gas "lines" to be a "feature" of daily life.

The "usual" arrangements won't be "working" as well as they used to. It's not too early to start "making" others.

Two words: "peak" "oil." Remember, you "heard" it here first! Best wishes for your daughter, though.

[CatholicEdHead]

11. We get most of our oil from Canada and our refinery is up

No problems around here, it is a regional thing due to Houston flooding.