Panic Or Preparation? North Escambia Gas Prices Jump While Supply Dwindles

August 29, 2008

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Gas stations across North Escambia are selling out of gas, especially regular unleaded, as Gustav moves toward the Gulf of Mexico.

“Some people are just hoarding,” one potential customer told us at a convenience store in McDavid. “They are filling up big drums with gas, cans with gas, everything with gas.” The pump nozzles at the station in McDavid were covered late Thursday afternoon; the store was out of gas.

Customers in Century told us they were buying gas ahead of an anticipated price increase. Other said they were trying to avoid long lines that have developed following other Gulf Coast hurricanes like Ivan, Dennis and Katrina. And others said they were storing gas to power their generator in the event Gustav knocks out the power.

At the BP station at North Century Boulevard and Highway 4, signs on the pumps notified customers Thursday morning that only super unleaded and diesel were available. They were out of mid-grade and regular unleaded, the two cheapest grades.

But the signs came down shortly after a gas delivery started from an tanker truck; the station once again had regular unleaded gas. Good news, at least for a while. Bad news though in the price department, prices were to jump 13 cents a gallon after the delivery.

“It’s just crazy,” one lady in Century said.

Pictured above: This station in Century had sold out of regular unleaded and mid-grade unleaded until this delivery Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Panic Or Preparation? North Escambia Gas Prices Jump While Supply Dwindles”

  1. Felicia on August 29th, 2008 9:32 pm

    The price jumped from 3.35 this morning to 3.59 (30 minutes ago) a gallon here in North Alabama today near Huntsville. It’s insane! No gas deliveries, just feeding off panic and ‘future speculation’. Hogwash, it’s price gouging!

  2. Beegee on August 29th, 2008 5:16 pm

    One more thing,folks,the media loves your hysteria!!!!!!!!!

  3. Beegee on August 29th, 2008 5:15 pm

    It’s so sad to know we are being victimized not only by a possibility of a hurricaine,but also by gas stations and grocery stores…..it’s like vegetables when a freeze hits…..the stores automatically go up on the prices. What does the tomatoes in the storeroom have to do with the “frozen” ones yet to get to the store?It’s all about the almighty dollar…….it makes me nauseated!! As for the folks that are indeed hoarding? If you have lived here any length of time,you know that it doesn’t take all that gas and food to survive before calm is restored!!!Now,if you are buying all that gas and huge amounts of food to help others who might not be fortunate enough to purchase extras,then kudos to you!!! Just remember the motive behind what we do,is the judgement that will be meted out!!!!