Florida gas stations were struggling to keep up with demand as Hurricane Milton approached the state’s western coast, causing long lines and empty pumps. Gov. Ron DeSantis stated that state officials were working with fuel companies to bring in gasoline ahead of the storm’s expected landfall on Wednesday. Troopers escorted 27 fuel trucks to stations to help with replenishment efforts on Monday night. However, as of Tuesday afternoon, about 16.5% of Florida stations were out of fuel, up from 3.5% the previous day, with over 43% of the stations in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area having no gasoline.
DeSantis outlined the state’s replenishment efforts during a morning news conference, mentioning the dispatching of fuel to gas stations as supplies ran low. He assured residents that there wasn’t a fuel shortage, but stations were struggling to keep up with demand. Despite fuel flowing, many stations were unable to meet the needs of the increasing number of customers. Some residents in line for gas in Tampa expressed frustration over the long wait times but emphasized the importance of patience during this time. Ned Bowman, spokesperson for the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, advised people to have patience as suppliers work to continuously move fuel to stations.
In response to the fuel shortage at some stations, residents like Martin Oakes and Stephanie Grover-Brock shared their experiences of waiting in long lines to fill up their tanks. While Oakes was able to find fuel at a different location after his local station ran out, Grover-Brock urged others to remain determined and patient despite the challenging situation. DeSantis reassured residents that there was enough gasoline for those evacuating, advising them to only take what they need and not travel far distances if not necessary. AAA also recommended maintaining a sufficient gas tank level for evacuations and urged people to avoid panicking by prematurely filling up their tanks.
The Florida Petroleum Marketers Association acknowledged that the situation of high demand and temporary fuel shortages was typical during hurricanes in Florida. Suppliers were working diligently to transport fuel to stations, but the sheer volume of customers was creating challenges in maintaining supplies. DeSantis emphasized that residents did not need to travel long distances to find fuel and that there were options available within tens of miles for those evacuating. Despite the difficulties faced by gas stations and residents alike, officials and industry representatives urged everyone to remain patient and cooperative during this critical time.
