To Any Politician Who Gives a 'You Know What:'
Hello. I am a correspondent with CNN's Anderson Cooper 360. My family and I are also residents of Atlanta, Georgia. My question for you: Are Atlanta and nearby regional cities such as Charlotte and Nashville part of America?
The reason I ask is this: We have almost no gasoline, while almost all other cities in the United States have all the gasoline they want.
We are spending hours cruising the streets and highways looking for gas. Only a small percentage of stations have fuel and you never know who will have it.
Many gas station owners jack up their prices and scores of vehicles lining up are creating dangerous driving conditions on clogged streets and highways.
People cut in line, either accidentally or on purpose, and tempers flare. Violence is always a possibility.
Now, I remember back in the early 70's and the late 70's when the whole nation suffered like this. But we suffered collectively, as a nation.
Now, it's only our small region of the country suffering. The experts say it's because of supply problems as a result of the hurricanes. Never mind that Houston and Dallas, two cities much closer to Ike have gas.
We are expected to chill and not worry. I say that because some of our local politicians insist that this is not a major problem and that people are "panicking." Hey, I'm as calm as can be. But I am angry at the lack of understanding.
I hate to tell you political leaders who don't drive your own cars all that much, but this is a major problem. In the last week, I have traveled to Miami, New York City, and Anchorage, Alaska and watched enviously as drivers got gas easily with no wait.
So here's my thought: Since we're all part of America, maybe some of our national politicians can get us some gas. I figure if this was happening in Washington (or places like New York or LA) for that matter, this wouldn't be allowed to happen.
Meanwhile, maybe some of the politicians in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, can get a little more worked up - whether they agree or not - about something that is causing much havoc in their states.
If y'all don't think it worth helping us, perhaps we'll vote you out. That is, if we have the gas to make it to the polls.
Sincerely,
Gary Tuchman
AC360 Correspondent
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It is amazing that I sit here and see people in states with ZERO refineries complaining about gas shortages. Well do you want to know why you have shortages in TN and GA and these other states, it is because the majority of your gasoline is made in Texas and Louisiana and if I am not mistaken, most of those refineries were hit by not one but 2 Major Hurricanes. Now if we had been building refining capacity closer to where we have been finding the oil or maybe in some other towns that could support taker offloading we would not have this problem, however it comes down to NIMBY( Not in my back yard). You want more gas, the get your state legislators to allow refinery and terminal construction and contact Congress and tell them you want a faster permitting process for the same.
As far as the refineries taking steps to protect their facilities, 90% of the refineries that were shut down by the hurricanes were done so because they did not have 2 critical components, power and staff to run them.
8 more years! 8 more years!
David W, your own state of Florida was the key lynchpin in installing the current administration. Don't act like you live in a blue state.
Gas seems to be getting even MORE scarce here (Atlanta) and the AJC is predicting two more weeks before things get back to normal. For a city with the longest average commute in the nation I can't think of anything that could be more crippling.
Perdue claims that the situation is self-induced due to our own panic and that there is ample gas for all drivers in the Atlanta area.........
I live in Atlanta now, and lived in New Orleans during Katrina and Houston during Rita. I agree with Katie, but it's not just about gas. In our current system (federal or local), the infrastructure and the people who use it – whose lives are directly affected by it or lack thereof – have somehow moved down the priority list.
Funny to hear all of you complaining about not having any gas to fill up you 10MPG moster trucks. Imagine the people LIVING in american without a regular supply of food... a roof over their head... or the ability to see a doctor when they are sick. There are a lot of people far worse off than us sitting at our desks in front of our PCs under a roof in. Count your blessings and try WALKING or BIKING somewhere for once.
The gas crisis is being ignored because no one can (or in a few cases, is willing) do anything about it. As a society, we have stuck our heads in the sand, ignored science, ignored the leaders who tried to warn us, and refused to see that there is a limit on what we can take from the earth without consequences.
Get ready for the consequences.
I'm pretty sure that four years ago there was a gas crisis just before election time, and people got all hot and bothered under the collar, and then forgot about it by the time the polls rolled around. Short fuses, short memories, and the South will again vote Republican. Please, this time learn from your mistakes! As for actual knowledge about the crisis, it is getting some coverage in Orlando on News Channel 13, but not anything in-depth. I guess they're too focused on the economic crisis as a whole (go figure) or pretending that Caylee Anthony is still alive.
I live in Charlotte and I was one of the people who did not panic and run to the pump. We just filled up today and I heard there would be more gas on the way in a couple of days. I had a plan B. I told my husband if we could not find gas we would just have to catch the bus. He told me that even the bus system is having problems with the gas issue. That scared me a little.
I too believe the storms are an excuse. I remeber when Katrina hit. We were out of gas for about 2 days, but it kicked in after that. The price gauging needs to stop. I saw a station increase their price from $3.89 $4.19 in one day. It's ridiculous. I also feel that we have only ourselves to blame. Too many of us elected people into office that do nothing for us. Unfortunately, we all have to suffer for other's lack of common sense.
That is a sucky situation indeed.
This really should be a big deal and if the Feds aren't doing anything to help, I hope the states themselves would be neighborly and share some of their supplies until the refineries are up and running. I inderstand that there are some tighter emission laws up there, but I can't see why those laws can't be laxed for the duraton of this crisis.
Our goverment has lost focus.They no longer care about the little people. If we do not stop this soon we will be the third world country that relies on other countries to take care us. That is just the cold hard fact.
Ride your bike, take the bus.. you have options. I'm not waiting for someone to fix my problem
Here here! The situation here is dire to say the least, and no one is talking about it. Our own governor isn't even HERE! And the pipeline/ike excuse just doens't fly: The same pipeline that supplies us supplies Washington DC, and there are no shortages there.
And to those who say GA is a red state so we have only ourselves to blame: SHAME ON YOU. Not only did not everyone in Georgia (particularly Atlanta) vote for GWB, but the idea that we should be treated poorly because of political affiliation is downright unamerican. We're all a part of one nation, and this political bickering is literally going to tear the country apart.
apparently an i.q. is not required... this gas issue will subside when the next two refineries get back online this week, it will take a few days to catchup with demand largely due to the approx 10 million illegals competing for gas, food and housing in your country. calling the southern red states ignorant, and blaming all of this on W shows just really how out of touch some people are. tossing insults and outright uninformed b.s. gives me little hope for the future of our country. where did you miss the facts..... what the hell is your self-obsorbed problem? wake up and see thru the stink! an unarmed debate is not the answer.... self responsibility is.
Vote for the Repubican party in November ,,,, You ain't seen nothing yet!!
The problem is that the people in those cities are over reacting to stories and filling up all the time even when they don't need to. They are creating their own problems.
Cities such as Atlanta are typically on a 5 day gas rotation based on previous demand and usage. Because people are over reacting, they are using up a 5 days supply in less than a day by filling up when they typically wouldn't.
The refineries are operating at more than 75% capacity right now. There is plenty of gas. We are paying less for gas now than at other times in history, but no one is over reacting to it. If people would settle down, and if the media would stop reporting this as a crisis it would resolve itself in about two weeks – but every week you keep over reacting adds more time.
I can't imagine how you people would react if there were a real crisis.
Kevin
P.S. I work for a major gas supplier that supplies gas to the south and other parts of the country. Trust me, I know what I am talking about. There is no shortage of gas!
This is to the people responding because southern states are "red states"
Are you kidding me? I guess we should vote for a same sex marriage and then maybe we will have some gas!
the problem is the state standards. they dont allow for lower quality standards as far as sulphur levels and emissions like many northern states...
the lack of continuity between states and the lackluster attention being paid by community,civic and especially State governments is embarassing for this country.
did we not have time to prepare for such situations? did we learn nothing from the potential damage of katrina?
if we allow true supply and demand to happen 8 dollar a gallon would have been standard... it seems to have been bad enough.
mean while my parents cant get gas in a city with more cars per capita then boston... where the price has actually DROPPED in the last couple of weeks...
why cant what is in excess elsewhere be refined and shipped?
seems to me that a days drive from other areas should me a day or 2 without gas... not weeks.
Move to VA! We have plenty and it's cheap!
Maybe if we could drill ANWR you'd be in better shape. Don't blame W, blame the idiots who have stopped us from drilling. DRILL BABY DRILL!!!!
I think it's very curious that only one part of the nation is particularly affected by a gas shortage. This also happens to be part of the nation that will be most likely crucial as far as votes are concerned in the upcoming election. So how many of you in the southeast will now be manipulated to vote with McCain because you perceive him to be the gas god?
I think it's unacceptable to say the fuel companies were caught off guard. If I lived in the southeast I'd demand a serious investigation.
Goodness gracious! I haven't even noticed this problem until now, it's been so long since I needed to fill up my Prius.
I would like to respond to the gentelman from Florida, Mr David W. Violence has erupted at gas stations in the lest week. People are camping out in gas station lines. When a gas station gets a delivery, Police must be on hand. My sister in law waited in line for two hours and forty minutes and was then only allowed to buy ten gallons of gas, not enough even for the weekly commute. It is to easy, sir to sit back and say "suck it up" when you are not in this crisis. As for our state putting the current administration in office, I remember clearly that it was YOUR state that couldnt count ballots. Yes we would all like alternitives to gasoline, but until they are online and available to the majority, people need gasoline to get to work.
I am gas station owner & none of my 4 stations have gas for last one week. No reply from supplier when we will get gas next & how much.
I live in Charlotte, NC with my family. I too am worried abut the gas situation, and our economy as a whole. We have already cut back. We car pool, consolidate our errands, etc. We have not gone and "topped off" as others have- but have waited until we truely needed gas to try to find it. But there are two things about the situaton that really make me mad! Our governor and mayor have consistently lied to us about when gas will be available.......why do they do this? And I really don't appreciate the comments people have made on this blog about Southerners. I am not a redneck – most people I know are not. I do not mistreat people from the North. We are just trying to live our lives like every other American family- and I resent people saying that we brought this on ourselves. You probably won't say that when it happens in your "world".
The reporters on CNN are so condescending about the bail out. The "experts" are proclaiming that there will be a disaster if Congress doesn't pass the bail out. It isn't maybe. It's "there will be!!!"
Why are they promoting panic?
To prolong a corrupt system like Wall Street will cause more pain and larger losses in the long run. It will ensnare millions more people who will lose more of their money. Wall Street is a failed system. WE must let it die before it brings us all down.
AnnMarie, Exactly what can Sonny Prudue do? Can he restart a refinery any sooner? NO, Can he order more gasoline from europe and demand it be sent..No (not even Bush can do that) Can he ask for fuel wavers so trucks of conventional gas (non smog gas) be shipped over the road to Atlanta from rural areas? Yes and he did, and I believe it was granted by the EPA, but not enough trucks avil. to put a dent in the issue... Conservation would help much more..
And Jeremy, while that may have been an issue at first, the wholesale prices have dropped. If prices are high at certain stations, it's more likley because that local dealer needs the extra profits to make it.. If he's selling 10% of what he normaly does, instead of making a dime per gallon, he needs 60 cents now.. Or next month he may not be their, when you need him again...
It really aggrivates me that many of you are saying to get over it. I guarantee if you were in this position you'd be pitching a fit too. I personally am not effected by this, but I'm putting myself in those people's shoes.
Many Atlantans travel 40 plus miles for work–it's a commuter city–and their livelihood, just like the rest of ours, depends on a pay check. So if they can't get to work, and there is not a good public trans system in place they are screwed.
Not to add insult to injury, but Gas prices have dropped here in MA since ike dissapated. I've seen gas at 3.32, lowest price in months.
You ought to be calling the suppliers, but good luck since a crisis just means higher profits.
I think its more about your local politicians than any one else's. We had a similar problem here in Phoenix a couple summers ago when a pipeline between Phoenix and Tucson broke. Our problem lasted only a few days as our elected officials were quick to act. Maybe you should be calling YOUR elected officials rather than placing the blame on Washington.
Sorry, but this has been in the making for years starting with Cheney's energy taskforce in 2000. But hey, there are record profits in the oil patch and and George and uncle Dick have more tax breaks for big oil in the works. Maybe they figure that Georgia and the rest of the southeast are so solidly red that they don't have to care. I find it interesting that swing states don't seam to have a problem getting gas. Hmmmm..
8 years ago we were at peace, the economy was doing well, personal income was on the rise, the banks were sound, the dollar was strong and gas was under $2/gal. I wonder what got us here?
You know, seeing all these posters with the mentality of "suck it up, get over it," and "adapt" make me so angry.
I live in Georgia and there is just no gas. I don't drive that much; and I use a very fuel economic car when I do. I wouldn't have thought that not having gas would wreak such havoc in my life, but it does. All gas stations where I am -even ones with gas- are closing at night because it is too dangerous for the attendants (because people are fighting etc). I was out of fuel and passed 23 (TWENTY THREE) empty gas stations. It is scary when you think you might not make it home, are in a remote area, on a highway, may not be able to go to work, can't see friends, family etc. all because of gas.
We do have high expectations in America, because it is America. And, let me just say to those of you who aren't having to deal with this, who have a "just deal" attitude: You would be upset if this was you. You would be bemoaning and yelling and just as angry.
If it is so important to get this bill passed why are the Jewish lawmakers taking the next 2 days off! I question their motive and patriotism! I understand holidays being a Catholic, but come on!!!!
Not everyone in this state is republican, so get off your high horses and help us out here.
Would everyone stop with the sarcastic red state comments, I live in Tennessee and I didn't vote for Bush in 2000 or 2004. As a matter of fact Nashville/Davidson county overwhelmingly voted for Al Gore and John Kerry as did Atlanta and I'm pretty sure Charlotte did as well. We in Nashville, Tennessee have a democratic Governer and a Democratic Mayor so please stop with the red state comments, I'm already ashamed to be from Tennessee because of our red state designation, there's no point in rubbing it in. This was a great article because the fact is if it was New York, LA, or DC the politicians would be telling the residents of Tennessee, Georgia, and North carolina to make a sacrifice for their fellow Americans but they expect us to carry on like nothings wrong during our time of need!
Passed 13 gas stations in a row yesterday, all empty.
If that isn't a shortage... what is? The only time to get it without waiting in line is at 4am, which I did this weekend.
Perhaps some of you have forgotten that although Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee are red states, there are some of us living in the South who did not vote Republican. I do not appreciate being lumped in with this group, and I do not think that anybody from the South (Democrat or Republican) appreciates the stereotypes that have been applied to southerners in these comments.
Hearing someone say it's our own fault because we panic and run out and get as much gas as we can is just plain BS! How much can you buy at one time, even without a limit... one tankful at a time, and even if you have 2 or 3 cars, few are filling them all even if you had time.
Again, it's poor management and lack of what used to be "common sense". You can bet that those with the power have the gas.
I have no issue with those who are well off, however they got it, but for those who think they're "special" because they have a "silver spoon", I hope you choke on it! Corporate execs and politicians included. If you felt the pain of the middle and lower classes who are supporting you, you just might get a clue... time to go back to "We the People for the People".
I understand that the events of the hurricanes made us low on fuel, and we should not panic, but this is a joke. I am concerned for all those that have a long way to commute to work, run several errands, those owners of gas stations that might have to deal with outraged people, etc. It's going to be unpleasant to call work saying you can't come in because you can't gas. That really causes a chain reaction with what's dealing with the economy. Plus, not only for people who have their own cars but ofcourse kids that take the bus to school, the public transit bus, and businesses that deal with transportation. I know this is what we get for relying on gas, but it's not like all of us can afford to get hybrid cars. Besides, the maintenance for those cars is too expensive, I'm sure there are still some bugs, and it takes years to make your money back. They still rely on gas anyway so you'll still be in the same predicament looking for a gas station.
I don't blame this on W. but more on our state leaders. It still doesn't make sense why it's not reaching throughout the nation. I also don't believe it has to do wether GA is a republican state or not.
I am only 20 and my family can be categorized as being democrats, but I've being working hard enough to say that I want to keep most of the money I make instead of letting people get it who abuse the money. I am not saying don't help anybody, but I see too many who are lazy and live off of the gov't and they don't want to even try to make their lives better. Yet, as a full-time worker and a full-time student, which I have about a 45 minute commute to school and another 45 back and with gas prices being so high, and cost for tuition...I need all the money I can get. Well sorry for ranting away from the topic but hey I'm 20 and I should be out having fun, but no gas in the car!
A gas shortage? Oh my god! It's like someone messed up supply and demand by putting an artificial cap on prices – or more accurately screamed price gouging every time prices went up by a nickel.
Welcome to economics 101 – If there is a shortage of something, prices must rise to stem demand. If this pricing mechanism is not allowed to operate shortages result. Suppliers will not increase supply because there is no economic incentive to do so. Demand will not abate because prices are still low.
Welcome to the new America – brought to you by the Democrats.
here every one goes pointing and so forth 1st off i have horse cant get gas to get to town to buy feed..... two we dont have buslines here in the country cant ride a bike to town to far ...........dont call us whiners we have been asking and demading from our gov why we have no gas ........................and yes alot of people are loosing their jobs becuase they have no way to work . so if you have gas be thankful........ you dont sit in a line for hours to get up there and tehy are out or try to find gas to be able to go get your meds, go to the store............
Gary,
Well said. If people could only see how people are camping out at the pumps waiting for a Gas Truck to arrive. Some are going in the middle of the night (around 2am) to try and beat the crowds in getting gas. The average time for a Gas Station to run out of gas after a delivery is 6 HOURS!!!
Gas is hard to find and when you find it it is high as heck. ($4.59 a gallon) This is like living in a Third World Country to me. The gas lines are long and people are now fighting while in the lines. We have had one death due to the shortage during a fight. People are running out of gas on the side of the roads. I am not sure why CNN is not reporting this mess.
Our Gov has left the country and has not addressed the Pipeline from Galveston not pumping at full capacity. They said our state was red and our Governor is a republican. I bet when all is said our state will be BLUE.
Monica-Atlanta
Liz S-
I have no choice but to drive around and look for gas. I live in a rural area. We have NO public transportation here in Monroe, NC.
Also, I didn't vote for W either. Just because we live in a red state doesn't mean that we deserve this problem.
This is definitely NOT a blue state vs red state issue as some as you are saying it is, because the are Democrats and Republicans alike at the helms.
I am in Detroit, and gas has gone down 40 cents in the past 7 days. We are currently paying $3.50 and its continuing to go down. I have family in Charlotte who visited us this weekend and heard something that makes sense.
Many of the owners and distributors of gas in the southern region have made a pack to purchase small quantities of gasoline until the prices come down. Here in Detroit, if you paid $40,000 to fill up your station, and you were only going to sell it for $30,000- why fill up all your tanks.... What I have heard is that gas stations are not getting their usual supply as a tactic to make a profit.
Let me remind you we didn't have a problem with gas till the Democrats got in the house 2 yrs ago..The price of gas was at or under 2 dollars prior to that and plenty of it!!..So do the math!! So Is it Bush's fault! Democrates this is your own handy work!
I live in ATL as well, and we're running pretty low in my car, and I have no idea where we'll get any more. We're conserving where we can. But here's my two cents. The only thing I've heard from the governor's office since this began is "price gouging will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law". And prices have remained stable, around $4.00 per gallon, but all the stations are empty. No stock. Now, tell me, what should the price of gas be in this case? $5.00? $6.00? If it was allowed to get to that level, I'll bet that in 48 hours we'd have gas to buy! Because of two things: Demand would go down, and supply would appear, because the gas companies would go find us some to sell for that price, because the price is so darned attractive. And then over the next few weeks, things would continue to normalize back to a regular equilibrium.
But that's not been allowed to happen. Government stepped in and prevented normal price fluctuations that would have given incentives to companies to meet the market's demands. And now we're out of gas.
This is why I never understood over-protecting against "price gouging". It artificially prevents supply from being offered up to the market, and therefore the market's demand is unmet.
I believe everything comes back to GREED! OPEC started this ball rolling, the Oil Companies jumped onboard and the car manufacturers never cared or considered it important enough to see down the road, so to speak!
Its BS that after the past few years of uncalled for oil and gasoline prices, everyone still sits on their back ends. Come on, OPEC has their hands wrapped around the valve and around our economy! Its nice to see how our government has really pushed all of us in AMERICA to think outside of the box and STOP RELYING ON FOREIGN OIL! This started years ago because we've become too lazy and we don't fight for what we believe in any longer... Its a shame, I do okay for a single person and yet I know quite a few families that struggle to even buy the minimal amount of groceries! Yet we still allow OPEC and the oil companies to take more and more every day. Well the MORE IS GONE and this is all you have left, NOTHING!
If it were just consumer panic, then why have so many stations been empty since the week before Ike? You'd think they'd have gotten at least 1 delivery in that time!
I live in Chicago
We have GAS
The reason FLORIDIANS and TEXANS have gas is that they didnt PANIC and stations were SMART and limited the amount of gas each person could get. If your station owners weren't that smart, they just weren't. You were not in short supply until a rumor started, no one trusted their neighbor (understandably) and you all went into a buying frenzy. This goes right back to a limit not in place on fillups, but then filling gas cans. Again, a LOCAL problem. Gas in MY area shouldnt go to bail out your area's stupidity of not imposing restrictions when it QUICKLY became seen that YOU ALL WERE PANICKING. When Gustav and Fay approached and the destinations were unknown, explain why Pensacola still had gas. Pumps gradually started going dry, but note the word GRADUALLY. We didnt panic, or HOARD.
I believe if you go look at many people's back porches, you'll find OOMPTEEN red gasoline cans, all filled to the brim. Ask them for the gas! (Yes, duh- how do you think most of those cars ARE on the road?) I'm all for sharing, but not when it's to bail out residents who are hoarding.
So you want sympathy? Go to the dictionary. You created the crisis.
Thank the democratic congress, this is a praylude to whats coming. don't vote democratic, lets stop giving everything away to the illegals and people to lazy to help themselfs. This is all part of a plan to make the working people, work forever like slaves only to lose your life savings giving it to enemy countrys to use against us
I live in Apex, NC. My brother just drove back to OK from here this past weekend. I spoke with him Sunday and he said he was able to find plenty of gas. In Springfield, MO, he paid $3.16 a gallon. Here in our area, if we can find it, the price is right at or above $4.00 per gal.
I agree, the refiners are holding all of us up!