Gas Buddy: 65 percent of NC gas stations are out of fuel

CHAMBLEE, GA (WWAY/AP) — More than 60 percent of gas stations in North Carolina are out of fuel. That’s according to Gas Buddy as of 2 p.m.

That comes days after Gov. Roy Cooper preemptively declared a state of emergency, lifting some fuel regulations to help ensure there is enough fuel supply available throughout the state.

Across the state gas stations with fuel are seeing long lines form as people panic to fill up and top off their vehicles–exactly what state leaders say we all need to avoid doing.

That panic buying makes the situation worse–just like it did with toilet paper and cleaning supplies at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic or like it does with bread and milk ahead of storms.

Cooper during a news conference on Wednesday again urged North Carolinians only to buy when you need gas.

“The shortages we’re seeing is pretty much related to panic buying from people,” he said. “I want to encourage people not to do that.”

Before this week, the fuel distribution infrastructure in North Carolina was already strained due to a shortage of authorized hazardous materials drivers. However, that driver shortage isn’t the main reason for gas stations running out of gas right now.

After the cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline, which runs from Texas to New Jersey and supplies at least 70 percent of the fuel to the Southeast, restricted allocations were placed on fuel distributors in North Carolina. That means they were not allowed to load and transport as much fuel as they had in previous weeks.

Colonial Pipeline remained mostly shutdown Wednesday morning. However, the company’s CEO reportedly told Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm that the company would decide by the close of business Wednesday if it could safely restart the pipeline.

When that restart happens, it will still take a few days for the fuel supply to ramp back up to normal levels.

According to GasBuddy, The national average price for a gallon of gasoline ticked above $3 for the first time since 2014 Wednesday as more Americans begin to travel due to the massive vaccination rollout.