Nearly 2,000 gas stations in Florida are facing fuel shortages less than a day after Hurricane Milton hit the state as a Category 3 storm. Data from GasBuddy shows that around 25% of the nearly 8,000 gas stations in Florida are currently out of gasoline.
Cities such as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, and Gainesville have reported high concentrations of gas station outages, with some areas reaching nearly 63% of stations without fuel.
The gas shortages were initially reported in central Florida as residents prepared for the hurricane by filling up their tanks or stocking up on fuel for generators. Lipow Oil Associates President Andy Lipow mentioned that the situation may worsen before improving, as consumers rush to gas stations before resupply can arrive.
Despite the current fuel shortages, Lipow remains optimistic that the situation will improve in the coming days. Tanker ships carrying gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel fuel are expected to arrive in Florida soon, with the arrival schedule returning to normal by next week.
Florida Highway Patrol Troopers have been escorting fuel trucks to gas stations in the Tampa area to help alleviate the shortages. Additionally, more tankers carrying millions of gallons of fuel are on their way to various parts of Florida, with some expected to arrive as early as Thursday evening.
In conclusion, while Florida is currently facing gas shortages in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, efforts are being made to resupply gas stations and normalize the situation in the coming days. Residents are advised to conserve fuel and only fill up when necessary to help manage the current shortage.