Lots of craziness here in Asheville, and elsewhere around the Southeast. Gasoline is suddenly in short supply, and folks are freaking out. There’s only Supreme left in town, and not much of it, even at $3.20 ish per gallon. The three gas stations I pass on my drive home from C’s preschool were packed with cars waiting for a pump–the line snaked out into the busy four-lane road.
I stopped to talk to an attendant, who was pumping gas for an elderly lady. He said the craziness started early this morning, when the station learned that no delivery would be made, and the pumps slowly began to go dry. I’ve heard that supplies may take up to a week to arrive. I’ve also heard that supplies will arrive tommorrow. There will be a County press conference in a couple hours, followed by an announcement on the local news station.
I have vague memories of the gas shortages of the 1970s–I didn’t think it would happen again for several more years. But Katrina plus Iraq plus Washington idiocy have brought us to this. Change is not coming, it’s here.
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We are seeing the same prices and lines here in Michigan. The combination of mother nature, politics and our short-sighted behavior around resources is anxiety provoking. We can only hope that ultimately this will lead to better ways to think about energy and how we use it but for now, I think we’re looking at some difficult times ahead.
The prices here are crazy - and we’re loading our tanks as soon as CJ get paid on Friday - who knows what the prices will be in a few weeks.
Strange how history repeats itself. It also makes me wonder how many people are rethinking thier votes a year later.
Thank God I live literally .5 miles from work, maybe less. I could walk if I wanted to, but it’s so hot and if I don’t go anywhere but to work and back I could probably go a month on one tank of gas.
I do wish, however, that I had a hybrid like you and ES have, it wouldn’t look as studly as my truck, but it wouldn’t be costing me an arm and a leg to drive either! That car was a brilliant decision!
Cheers!
I’m am going on an excursion to look around and report back what’s going on out there. Heard that Leicester Highway was backed up to Patton Ave with people trying to get into an Enmark there.
Go Ash! Now I’m hearing it may be up to a week before the pumps resume flowing. Although part of me is thrilled that people are going to have to think about their driving behavior, I’m beginning to have some concerns about economic impact.
Ok; I’m back. I’ll do a full post over on the blog, but here’s what I saw, driving up Merrimon and Patton.
The gas run was on at that Shell station just down the hill from Greenlife. Peole backed up into the road. People hanging out and watching people backed up in the road. Why? Just up Merrimon, there was a Citgo that was open and nobody was there. Regular was $3.10.
Seems about right to say that about 1 of every three gas stations was closed. Plastic bags over handles but still selling beer or completely dark.
I wonder how much gas will be in the morning?
At the Hot Spot just off 19/23 in Woodfin, rednecks were packing in lines of cars 6 and 8 deep. Again, why?
There’s no shortage. The Colonial pipeline is up and working at 25 percent capacity. Sure, it will take time to get back to normal, but if everyone would stop freaking out, we’d be fine.
I’m so loving my hybrid, and The Redhead is very much loving her new hybrid as well.
S.C., I ADORE my hybrid!
Ash, I feel honored to get the up to the moment report from the most feared person in Ash Vegas. Thanks.
My brother and Tracey both called last night and I heard about the craziness up there. Sounds like when they predict a couple flurries and then you can’t find bread or milk anywhere. Prices have jumped in Gboro, but gas stations are open and no lines that I’ve seen. Wish I had that hybrid too!