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Gas prices soar as supplies plummet after hurricane
By Derek Hodges
With Gulf Coast refineries and pipelines disabled or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, gas prices in and around Jackson County soared last week.
AAA of the Carolinas issued a statement Tuesday (Aug. 30) warning that “we expect gas prices to increase significantly, perhaps as much as 20 cents per gallon in the next several days due to Katrina.”
Adam Bell, co-owner of the Lovesfield Triple B Exxon station, posts a sign Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 31) telling motorists the station is out of gas. Several local stations were out of fuel for days, while those that were still supplied were selling gas at a dollar or more than they had the previous day. The shortages and rate hikes were caused by the disabling or destruction of Gulf Coast refineries and pipelines by Hurricane Katrina. – Herald photo by Derek Hodges
While the predicted price jump did occur, AAA missed the mark on how high rates would go. Several local stations saw prices skyrocket more than $1 per gallon in two days.
With the higher prices came fears that supplies would not last. That anxiety brought long lines to several area gas stations, forcing some motorists to wait as much as 30 minutes or more to fill up.
Sylva resident Bob Kincaid waited in line at Cody’s to fill up his car and two portable gas containers.
“I hope this doesn’t last and I don’t need this (extra gas), but I want to be prepared just in case. I don’t want to be without gas,” Kincaid said.
By lunchtime on Wednesday (Aug. 31) lines were snaking their ways around pumps at most local stations. So many motorists were awaiting their turn that police officers and sheriff’s deputies had to be called to direct traffic around lines that stretched into main roads. Cars at Cody’s backed up onto N.C. 107 several times, Sylva Police Officer Tom Tenhagen said. Tenhagen was called to direct traffic at the station.
“It’s unbelievable,” Tenhagen said of the lines.
“It just turned into a panic,” Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison said. “People were very cooperative with us, for the most part, and curteous to one another.”
No violence was reported as a result of the shortage, Jamison said.
Lines at many local stations ended as supplies ran out. Other stations opted to close their doors early.
“We ran out Wednesday afternoon and we were told not to expect any for three or four days,” said Jeff Bell, co-owner of the Lovesfield Triple B Exxon station. “We’ve been told to anticipate ordering ahead for the next six months.”
When stations do get shipments, often they are smaller than the regular order. Triple B, which usually receives 8,500 gallons each order got only 3,000 when they finally got gas Saturday (Sept. 3), Bell said.
For Western North Carolina’s tourism-driven economy, it would be hard to find a worse time for the shortages to come. The Labor Day weekend is considered by many to be a last-chance for summer vacations. Traditionally the weekend sees a high volume of long-distance travelers.
Jean Hartbarger, co-owner of the Jarrett House, said the inn had several cancellations because of the gas shortage. While they were able to fill those rooms with drop-ins, sales in the restaurant were down, Hartbarger said.
“I’d say we were down 50 percent on Friday and 25 percent on Saturday and Sunday,” Hartbarger said.
AAA reported that 8,000 fewer North Carolina motorists were expected to drive more than 50 miles from home last weekend.
“After a summer of high demand for fuel, gas prices have reached a level that forces many motorists to reconsider travel plans,” said David Parsons, president of AAA Carolinas.
With shortages looming, Gov. Mike Easley issued a statement last week encouraging state employees to stay home or work from home until supplies became more regular.
Several groups including AAA and the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, offered advice to motorists on ways to cut down on driving needs. Their tips include:
• Walk, bike, take a bus or carpool.
• Work from home if that is an option.
• Combine errands into one trip.
The groups also offered advice on how to cut down on gas usage when travel was essential. That advice includes:
• Ensure tires are properly inflated, the engine is tuned and the air filter is clean.
• Use cruise control and don’t speed (mileage is 15 percent better at 55 mph than 65).
• Avoid sudden starts and stops.
• Avoid idling, which burns more gas than restarting.
• Decrease unnecessary weight in the vehicle.
• Use air conditioning sparingly or not at all.
• Use your car’s overdrive.
• If you own more than one vehicle, use the one that gets better gas mileage.
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