NC Gas Shortages Leave People Panicked

The most important issue to the people in Asheville, NC, these days isn’t the election or the Wall Street bailout plan. They’re worried about gas, as the shortage there is now among the worst in the nation. How are emergency officials coping with the situation?

In an article on the CBNNews.com website, Sarah Miracle says Asheville’s mayor has been pleading for help from state leaders, but no help has come yet. Officials in the city have been keeping its citizens updated on their Web site.

“At this time the City of Asheville is estimating that it will take seven to 10 days for fuel production and distribution to get back to normal and positively impact the area,” the Web site states. “The city is proactively monitoring the situation and will post updates when received. The city encourages citizens to stay calm, conserve fuel where possible, carpool, and use public transportation.”

Tommy Almond, Gaston County Emergency Management Director, told Miracle that the “seven to 10 days” refrain is getting old. “Every day you keep hearing that seven to 10 days and every day it gets another seven to 10 days," Almond told her. “My understanding (is) the pipeline isn’t up and running 100 percent.”

Meanwhile, Miracle says the lines to gas stations are backed up onto the interstates and there have been reports of people losing control of their tempers. “The situation is so bad, police have had to patrol gas stations across North Carolina. In Charlotte, NC, officers arrested a man who apparently cut in line, angering other customers and causing fights between patrons,” she says.