Out of Gas!

greenasagourd · #1 09-25-2008, 05:27 PM

Due to the recent hurricanes & the refineries being temporarily shut down, we are running out of gas in North Carolina! We get our gas from the Gulf areas & the distributers just can't deliver enough right now -- deliveries are down 30% across the state. Charlotte is particularily dry, but it's even worse in the mountains. There was panic & a run on gas yesterday. So many stations ran completely out. Traffic jams & fender benders abounded at the stations that did have gas. Tommy could not find an open station to fill up his truck last evening, so he had to drive my car to work today. I only had half a tank, so I hope he can find some gas to buy today or he'll be forced into a day off from work tomorrow. The reports state that the situation should improve by next week. Geez, the economy, the gas, natural disasters -- what's next?!!

RebeccaJane · #2 09-25-2008, 08:11 PM

We are hearing that your situation is happening in many places north of Atlanta GA. We would probalby all be smart if from now on, we tried to keep our tanks always at least 1/2 full.....that is hard for me, because I would be stopping every two days....but it might be worth it to be able to get to work! Things are really getting scary.....

The economy is in a bad state right now....and I am scared....I have this precious little one that is about to be born in the next few weeks, and I hope I will remain financially stable to be able to raise her appropriately! You know, we are not rich, we are just hard working blue collar folks, who appreciate being able to sit down each night together and go to a movie every once in a while! Heck, i'd rather spend my extra cash on two flats of flowers instead of on a new pair of shoes!

I know that a lot of peoples lives are about to change....I just hope that none of us suffer! all we can do is keep doing what we are doing and pray that God will continue to provide for us, the things that we need!

Daylilydayzed · #3 09-25-2008, 08:58 PM

When Hurricane Ike was about to strike Texas, gas prices here in Lakeland went up very high. The Pix gas station my daughter is the asst. manager of refused a load of gas because Publix was not going to pay 6.00 a gallon for the gas before the consumer paid a dime for any of it.

Bird Lover · #4 09-26-2008, 10:20 AM

What's next??? Well, for one thing, we'll have a new president and I hope he'll be able to clean up this mess!!
I was so worried that gas prices would go sky high, but so far, no change here. Kinda sad that at $3.65, now we're happy to have it!

Pburgh · #5 09-26-2008, 01:58 PM

I remember the 70's so vividly - waiting in line to get $5.00 worth of gas. Lauren, I think Tommy will need TWO gas stations to fill up that truck!!! Somehow I can't picture him THUMBING.

Rebecca, don't worry. That should be the last thing on your mind right now. Enjoy this time. Everything will work out. It always does.

crabgrass · #6 09-26-2008, 05:32 PM

I am thankful I have a small car that gets good mileage and the fact that I don't have to drive very far at all anymore. Farthest I go is about 24 miles round trip, twice a month. Other days its just a couple miles from home. I used to drive to Dallas and back every day, sometimes 6 days a week. That was awful!! And that was when gas was 1.50 a gallon, even at that price it was costly each week. Around here it has always been the biggest vehicle was the favorite. But I have noticed a lot of really large trucks and suv's with for sale signs on them. But we have the cowboys and ranchers and horse people that will always need those large trucks and don't really have a choice to down size on their vehicle. I believe the whole gas price thing is an effort to get us all to drive less and drive more fuel efficiant cars and I do believe it is working!

greenasagourd · #7 09-26-2008, 08:19 PM

I drive a sedan & although it's getting old & not great on long trips, it's perfect for me driving around town. A tank of gas lasts me a long time these days. However, Tommy makes up for the both of us. We live closer to his last job, not his current job, so he must commute about 30 miles to office. Then as a construction project manager, he has to travel to the multiple job sites he is managing on a regular basis. Additionally, the traffic is so bad around here, there's no telling how much just gets burned up sitting still in the daily jams -- that stinks on many levels. His truck is ours, but paid for by work. This is common to provide trucks in this position (a good perk in my book) & the employer also pays for gas (thank goodness!) He needs a vehicle where he can haul anything from clients to supplies. It isn't economical or ecological, but necessary. And he needs gas to keep going until alternatives become readily available.

This gas panic is unreal! We've never seen anything this extreme before. At noon today, 4 out of 5 gas stations in Charlotte still did not have gas. Yesterday, Tommy & I waited in a traffic jam for 40 minutes apiece while trying to get to a pump. I was able to only get a $20 limit at the only gas station I found open in Mooresville after passing a dozen closed ones. Tommy was able to get $50 worth in Charlotte. We are personally good for the moment. The traffic is pouring out of the stations onto the already clogged streets & highways. We have aggresive driving laws here, so that tells you the attitude. Horns are honking like mad, fights are breaking out & this morning two people were killed in a jam by a passing speeding car. This has been going on for 3 days now. We hear of promises on the news for increased supply, but it is not happening fast enough. I've also heard Atlanta is dry.

RJ, I didn't mean to bring you down! Pburgh is right, this is your time for good thoughts. Let your spirit & good vibes soar! We've been through these challenges with the economy before & we will get through it again. I hope to have better news next time I post.

NEIndiana · #8 09-27-2008, 02:02 PM

All of these challenges will make us stronger and, it will make us use our minds more to figure out how to come up with solutions to our problems. We may not see it that way at the moment, but eventually we will.

Pat, I agree. I never would have believed that I'd be happy that gas was at $3.78 instead of being a lot lower in price. Fortunately, we aren't having the gas shortages in our neck of the woods, but my thoughts are with those here that are going through it. I'm blessed to only live 3 miles from work...of course that can also be a curse when in management..... so my tank lasts about 3 weeks. If I had to pay more often than that, I'd be riding a moped. The husband and I have talked about getting a motorcycle and I'd ride that to work instead of driving the jeep on good days. Sounds as if it's going to be a go on that idea so will be watching this winter for a bike we can afford. I'd love to have a Harley....but they are over priced.

crabgrass · #9 09-27-2008, 07:59 PM

Gaag, your husband is like the ranchers, etc around here that have to have that type of vehicle for work. He has no choice! A friend of mine has a simialar job and deal with work. He fills his truck up twice a week, spends like 150.00 each fill up. Good that his work pays for the gas. I can't believe all the shortages you are having there. It is enough to make short fuses blow! Sounds like it has been happening there too on the roads. We have very bad roads between here and Dallas. Long traffic jams and tempers flare. I wish people could band together better and be calm and courtious to each other on the road. Nobody likes bad road conditions and traffic jams and now no gas on top of it all but getting people killed, no excuse for that. I hope you all willnot have to go thru gas shortages much longer. I remeber this from the 70's! Showing my age here

greenasagourd · #10 09-29-2008, 06:26 PM

The area keeps receiving partial shipments, but the gas sells out shortly after it is delivered. The 'panic' itself does not seem quite as extreme, but it will probably heat back up through the work week. The news is now that it will take at least a week before any kind of normalcy returns.

My SIL & her family are coming here tomorrow for a visit. They've been vacationing on the Carolina coast in their RV for the last week. I guess we'll be sticking pretty close to home while they are here. I hope they don't have trouble getting gas as they travel back to KY.

I also remember the gas shortages from the 70's. We had a pretty rough recession then & interest rates were sky high. Our very first house had a 14% interest rate at a time when 18% was high (1981).