Gas stations in the Tampa Bay area are facing severe shortages, with more than three in four stations running out of fuel as of Friday afternoon. This information comes from GasBuddy, a gas price-tracking platform that reported 77.5% of gas stations in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area being without fuel.
The scarcity of fuel is not limited to Tampa Bay, as the aftermath of Hurricane Milton has caused problems across the state of Florida. GasBuddy's data shows that 29.9% of Florida's gas stations are currently experiencing shortages, amounting to over 2,100 stations without fuel.
Other areas in Florida are also grappling with gas station outages. In Sarasota, 62.1% of stations were reported to be dry, while the Fort Myers-Naples area and Orlando saw shortages at 42.4% and 35.2%, respectively.
Despite the challenges, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis assured the public that efforts are underway to distribute fuel rapidly. He mentioned that the state still has a reserve of 1 million gallons of gas to address the shortages.
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, advised drivers to remain calm and exercise caution during this time. He emphasized the importance of not panicking and urged drivers to drive safely, especially considering that Port Tampa, a crucial fuel distribution point, is not yet fully operational.
De Haan's message to the public was clear: while the current fuel supply may be constrained, efforts are being made to ensure that fuel will soon be readily available. Panicking and rushing to fill up tanks could exacerbate the situation, making it more challenging for everyone.
