The state of Florida faces a double challenge: the imminent arrival of Hurricane Miltona powerful Category 5 cyclone, and a growing fuel shortage in several of its most important cities. With sustained winds of up to 265 kilometers per hourMilton has forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes, saturating major roads and exhausted supplies combustible at service stations.
Chris Cain, resident of the island of Sanibelis one of thousands of Floridians who have had to flee their homes. Cain told ABC News that the evacuation has been complicated not only by traffic, but also by the difficulty of finding combustible. “Every road is blocked; It seems like everyone is in a never-ending traffic jam,” said Cain, who is traveling with his partner and eight-month-old baby.
He added that many service stations in your area they no longer have combustible available, which makes it even more difficult to get to the hotel within a few 32 kilometers from their home where they had previously booked.
As the Hurricane Milton It is moving towards the east, after having touched the northern coasts of the peninsula of Yucatan in Mexicoresidents of Florida they struggle to find combustible in the midst of the hysteria that usually accompanies this type of phenomenon.
According to Patrick De Haanhead of oil analysis of the platform GasBuddywhich monitors the prices and the availability of combustiblenear the 17.4% of gas stations in Florida already ran out of fuel by midday Tuesday October 8. The most affected areas are Fort Myers, Naples and the region of Tampa y St. Petersburg. In Cape Coraluntil the 50% of the stations were out of fuel.
This problem is not so much a fuel shortage in itself, but rather an overload of the distribution system. “Fuel continues to flow, but stations are struggling to keep up with the high demand“De Haan explained in a series of social media posts cited by the same media.
He indicated that the service stations of big chains or major travel stops, which typically have larger underground tanks and better logistical resources, are the best options for those looking combustible during the evacuation.
In areas like Tampa y St. Petersburgthe situation has been especially serious, with the 43.06% of stations reporting that they do not have combustible. In Orlando y Daytona Beachthe figure reaches 14.68%. However, cities like Miami, Jacksonville y Pensacola have recorded a minor impact, with less than 2% of affected stations.
Despite the statements of the governor of florida, Ron DeSantiswho stated at a press conference Tuesday morning that there is no true fuel shortage In the state, residents facing long lines and empty stations say otherwise.
It is expected that the Hurricane Milton touch down on Florida between Wednesday night and Thursday morning October 10according to the meteorologist of CBS News, Nikki Nolan. The storm has raised concerns across much of the state, especially as it comes just weeks after the impact of the Hurricane Helenewhich severely affected the region.
Regarding the current situation of the service stations, Ned Bowmanspokesperson for the Florida Petroleum Marketers Associationcommented that the temporary fuel shortage It is a typical phenomenon during hurricane evacuations. “It’s a normal cycle,” Bowman explained. “Demand is skyrocketing and stations are temporarily out of fuel, but suppliers are constantly replenishing.”
Despite the efforts of the authorities and providers of combustibleimages of long lines at gas stations and empty shelves in supermarkets reflect a sense of chaos among residents.
Despite the chaos surrounding the preparation for hurricaneauthorities urge residents to remain calm and not rush into the panic buying. De Haan, the GasBuddyrecommended that those who do not have an immediate need for combustible Don’t rush to fill your tanks. “This is not an event that is going to make the gas prices “they shoot,” he said.
However, with the imminent arrival of Milton and the recent memories of others devastating hurricanesthe tension in Florida It is palpable. The population is preparing for the worst, while the fuel distribution system is struggling to keep up with overwhelming demand.