It’s 10 a.m. I am just back from surveying gas stations along Merrimon Avenue. Here’s some of what I saw:
The 51 Grille Exxon station had gas, and people were lining up into Merrimon Avenue to wait. They were also lined up on the I-240 exit that’s right next to the station. People seemed polite, but they had their cars turned off and were looking miserable. The station had three or four workers standing to direct traffic. I didn’t notice how much they were selling regular for. The shell station across the street had no gas — just little orange cones in front of the pumps.
The Enmark further up Merrimon heading north was empty.
The CitiStop station had gas, and had workers in the parking lot directing traffic. They were not allowing people to block Merrimon. They had a long line of cars stacked up along Coleman, which runs next to the station. A worker told me they had sold 4,000 gallons of gas this morning. Regular was $4.09. The station has features a Dunkin’ Donuts right next door, and Dunkin’ workers were making deliveries of coffee and donuts to waiting motorists.
The Exxon station further along Merrimon across from Mountain Java had gas, and long lines at all pumps, with cars lining up into Merrimon. As I was leaving, the police were arriving to survey the situation. People were quiet and polite and again looking miserable.
The BP Station at the Intersection of Merrimon and Beaverdam was empty.
I continue to hear reports of people fighting, cutting in line and cussing out the poor convenience store workers. People’s nerves are frayed. Folks want to know why this is continuing to happen here. And where is the political leadership on this? This is an election year, for cryin’ out loud. The first comment I’ve seen was on WLOS, who interviewed state Sen. Martin Nesbitt and got a statement from U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler. We elect politicians to look out for interests, right? Where are they?
If I was Heath Shuler, I would be asking for National Guard tanker loads of gasoline to be delivered NOW. I’d be working my Washington connections to put some heat on the big oil companies and suppliers to do something NOW.
So that’s what I got. What you got?
17 Comments
"This isn’t an emergency by any stretch of the imagination, it’s hyper-panic mode and that only fuels the frenzy."
Bobaloo, I agree with you that the panic is only fueling the frenzy, but it is getting to the state of an emergency here, probably mostly because of the panic. Schools are closing. AB-Tech has cancelled classes indefinitely, and UNCA is looking at doing the same thing if things get any worse. The public schools are having to close because the buses can’t run. We pay for this education, yet we can’t receive it because of gas shortages. Also, many stations around here have been taken over by the city and county for emergency vehicles’ use only. If their fuel supply is running out, what do we do when ambulances and fire trucks can no longer make it to an emergency? It may not have been an emergency a few days ago, but it is certainly getting to that point very rapidly and we shouldn’t wait for it to become a full-blown emergency before something (such as the national guard or tapping into our national petroleum reserves) is done about it.
The Mayor is working the phones, suggesting that we may have rationing. Too little too late. Had we had rationing a week ago we would not be in this mess. Wake-up.
Update… Polk County 4.83 for regular
Funny, the areas with lots of McCain signs have gas… 4.25 was the highest I have seen today
Polk, Rutherford, McDowell, and Cleavland counties so far today.
I also have noticed what NoOne said, it is very spotty. A gas person told me that is because of the contracts with tanker trucks.
Could this be due to a job action by them?
How could we know? The paper and TV are too busy scaring people to find out.
No One, thanks for that info. interesting.
bobaloo, i was being a bit hyperbolic, but to my mind, it is beginning to verge on an emergency situation when city and county governments are cutting back services to save on gas.
I just got back from the Outer Banks and there is no shortage elsewhere along the was. People driving around looking for gas and waiting in long lines to top off and hoard gas in cans are the largest problem. Our so called "leaders" are clueless. Maybe they should cut another deal in the back room with Coleman that has something to do with the gas supply…
It’s very odd…I live between Canton & Waynesville and yesterday while I was out, all the gas stations in Canton were out except one and it was lined up almost out into the street. But then I got to Waynesville and found gas at the first station I came to on Russ Avenue. It was busy, but there were no lines and I was able to fill up the tank in 5 minutes and be gone. Price was $3.99. Then, I noticed another station on up the road also had gas, and it was just $3.88. It was also fairly busy, but again, no lines, no panic. On the way back home, there was a third station that had gas with no lines, no craziness. It’s so odd that Canton was pretty much dry yet Waynesville seemed to have a normal amount of the stuff and no one was making a run on it.
This is a very serious situation and no one is doing anything to relieve fears or the problem. If we don’t get gas within a day or so, half the workforce won’t be able to go to work.
Luckily one of the gas stations on my way to work had gas yesterday morning, but they were sold out on my way home. I’m taking a couple of vacation days this week to ease the pain of the daily 60-mile round trip.
And I’m not the only person who’s doing this either – yesterday there were several people who come from places as far-flung as Franklin, Columbus, Lake Lure and Marshall who weren’t able to come to work yesterday. Maybe after a few more days of fuel-related sickouts they’ll start to take the telecommuting idea a little more seriously?
just any expectation of this bunch of "servants" is way higher than they can deliver, it seems
"If I was Heath Shuler, I would be asking for National Guard tanker loads of gasoline to be delivered NOW."
You can’t be serious Ash. For crying out loud, that’s not what the Nat’l Guard is for. This isn’t an emergency by any stretch of the imagination, it’s hyper-panic mode and that only fuels the frenzy.
It’ll all blow over soon enough.
Bryan, perhaps. i guess i have high expectations of our public servants.
Right now I am relieved I got a DUI in May and thusly have a scooter. 85 MPG. I feel blessed I was able to be approved for credit at that time.
you are expecting too much from folks that are in politics for social and economic promotion.
right on, Sandy.
The shame of it is WLOS had to go to the elected officials to get them to say anything. Good for WLOS shame on the politicans. Why aren’t they seeking out the media themselves and issuing daily briefings. We’re in a real crisis and there is no leadership which proves a lot if there is a major catastrophe. This isn’t about politics this is about what they can do for us today, that’s what they were elected to do.