East Coast gas shortage

What a nightmare it was today just trying to get around the gas lines to get to work.

 

My advice is next time a storm is coming fill up some jugs, at least for a tank worth of gas before hand. I am surprised how few people are prepared for these things, since some have been trying to fill their cars for a couple days now, hinting that they didn't enter the storm period with a full tank.

 

This morning's news on CNBC claims tankers have arrived to Philly and gas trucks are filling up and heading north to NJ and NYC metro area to deliver much needed gas to stations.

 

I agree. I had to coax my retired and elderly Mom to prepare as if you have no electric and water. She went out and purchased a case of water bottles and canned food and a non electric can opener, batteries for the flash light, a gas lantern, and a Coleman food cooking set up. Her block is out of power a few days but had power restored. She did well in the calamity. She did full up her auto gas tank prior to the storm and still has plenty of gas in the car. She is retired and nothing sets her back, typical NY’er very resilient.

 

Go Figure. Perhaps the cost.

 

shouldn't be too difficult to chopper in some generators and fuel to strategic locations.

 

Yep, that's what we did both times in the 70's and it did work pretty good.

 

Sometimes....common sense just isn't.

OK...so it's a little hard for some folks to store gas, but really folks. It's a storm, not an earthquake! You see them coming. Like for 5 days.
The problem with the folks on the right coast is that, despite what the climate change priests deacons out there are preaching there hasn’t been a really bad Nor’easter in recent decades and folks just got out of the habit of getting ready for a storm.
The really interesting thing is the federal response!!!
I thought that the federal government would be alllll over this like a bum on a bologna sandwich to keep my CinC from being compared favorable (or less than favorably) with GWB.
I have to say…..I’m surprised at some of the things that I’m reading…but that’s a digression.

I've been through numerous storms including Hugo and Katrina. It's not that tough. EVERY storm I see the prepared.....and the unprepared. I'm a utility worker (sorta), so I have to stay but there's a bug out plan and money saved for my family members that don't have to stay.
Generally speaking...we don't bug out for CAT-1 storms however (comma!) no matter where you live or what your economic depth band is there is NO reason that you can't have a little fuel, food, water and cash squirreled away in addition to things like o2 bottles (if you're thusly dependant) prescription meds, and handy little bits like aux lighting some batteries, and aux heat...if you're less geographically fortunate than those of us who live where it's warmer...
No.....you don't have to be like the idiots that are preparing for end times by building survival communes out in flyover country but even if you live in a brownstone in NEW YOWK!... you can get a little more ready for the next storm...or earthquake.....or major blackout....or whatever.
Over time, you'll be one of the prepared.
Not ALL THE WAY ready, but pretty dang close.
I'll never forget a conversation that I had with a shipmate on another topic about storms.
He actually asked: "Yeah...but what are the chances of another storm like Katrina???"
I laughed at him and said "Exactly 100-percent!"
Same as with a major power outage...or an Earthquake...
....or for that matter, an asteroid event!

Gas shortages suck! I was alive in the 70's so I remember the lines. You know how many times I had to stand in line after Hugo (4 weeks of fuel shortages) or Katrina (6 weeks)?????
None.
I have reserves of most of the essentials, and the capability to store a fairly impressive amount of fuel, but I live in hurricane country. Following Katrina (as I mentioned above) gas was in short supply for WEEKS, not days.
You know what the chances are that you folks out on the left coast are going to have to endure a long term interruption in basic things like power, food deliveries, and fuel availability? Do you know what the chances are that you folks on the RIGHT coast will be doing this again??

Right!
Exactly 100-percent!
Just give it a little time.

Good Luck!
STAY SAFE!!!
Remember…..most storm fatalities happen at times like now…..after the storm is gone.

 

One head scratcher for me is seeing all the headlights on in the gas lines which implies to me they are idling. WTH?

 

clueless.

 

Are you surprised? These are probably the same people who complain when the price of petrol goes up, yet continue to drive their 15 mpg SUV.

You just can't help some folk.

 

Like I said.....sometimes????
Common sense isn't.

Many of the people in the storm ravaged areas will now be able to activate their federally subsidized flood insurance. So we get to help them rebuild. I don't have a problem with that however (comma!!!) I'd give them thier settlement checks with a huge caveat:
"You didn't build this. Next time it floods....and it will flood again....you're on your own unless meet new building regs."
I used to ask folks on the coast here who fussed about the new building regulations for flood prone areas: "How many times do you expect me to pay for your new house??!!"
They paid into the program. They deserve their checks!!! However (comma!!!) I don't wanna have to write them another check in 10 years...or next year.

And then............there's the folks who didn't even buy into the National Flood Insurance program.

Hang in there folks!
It's going to be a looooong tough slog, but you'll get through it.

 

Which immediately implies that it isn't the lack of gas that is the biggest problem, but the panic of the people. Odd/Even days does nothing to reduce demand, just the number of people waiting on each day. We were having this discussion just the other day here.

 

it's the people who don't have flood insurance that are the problem. and, of course, the usual fighting and lawsuits with the insurance companies claiming 'wind damage vs flood damage'.
in '91 after the no name storm hit the cape, a lot of us had to put our houses up on stilts. nobody likes it, but there isn't much of an alternative.