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Gas stations can't pump if they don't have power. That's generally why there's a lack of fuel. Sometimes they have backup power or power companies prioritize t

by Brybry 3y ago

Gas stations can't pump if they don't have power. That's generally why there's a lack of fuel. Sometimes they have backup power or power companies prioritize them. In the south, local media will help notify which gas stations are operable. More fuel won't solve that problem. For Sandy they had more issues than just pumps without power. 40% of their supply was reduced before the storm even hit from shutting down refineries. And then the refineries suffered damage. Storage tanks were damaged. Pipelines were inoperative. They couldn't fill delivery trucks. [1][2] For a typical hurricane, why would there even need to be extra fuel over normal supply? In a hurricane people are driving less. They're staying home. The only extra fuel will be from generators and hoarders. Price increases would probably decrease hoarders but it wouldn't turn refineries back on and magically make more gas. [1] https://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/gar/2015/en/bgdocs/Haraguchi%20and%20Kim,%202014.pdf https://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/gar/2015/en/bgdo... [pdf][page 6] [2] https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/sandy-storm-anniversary/remember-the-gas-shortage-after-sandy-is-energy-infrastructure-better-fortified-now/3926937/ https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/sandy-storm-anniversar...

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> stations can't pump if they don't have power. That's generally why there's a lack of fuel. They’re a gas station. They’re sitting on a fuel source. Why do you think it isn’t economical to install a generator? (Or even lease one.) > why would there even need to be extra fuel over normal supply Emergency vehicles. Trucks bringing supplies for repairs. People checking in on each other. People coming back from evacuation or leaving to find peace of mind. Also returning to normal life. And it’s not about extra fuel. It’s about maintaining supplies. New shipments aren’t coming in, which means supplies need to be rationed. New shipments come in slower than they would if prices could rise; nobody serving the general population is incentivised to rush. > increases would probably decrease hoarders but it wouldn't turn refineries back on and magically make more gas Emergency shortages are all about distribution, not production. There is plenty of gas in the world in a disaster. It just isn’t making it to disaster victims. (Well, it is. But you have the pay the cab driver cash to pay the guy by Riverside Park for a can at $20/gallon.)
selimthegrim 3y ago
I think it’s a little more complicated than that. I remember fueling up in Chalmette right before Ida, early in the morning, and by the evening or the next day the gas station was out of fuel. Would no price gouging laws have allowed them to inflate the price so much that people couldn’t afford to buy a day early like I did to be able to evacuate?

by Brybry 3y ago

JumpCrisscross 3y ago

> stations can't pump if they don't have power. That's generally why there's a lack of fuel. They’re a gas station. They’re sitting on a fuel source. Why do you think it isn’t economical to install a generator? (Or even lease one.) > why would there even need to be extra fuel over normal supply Emergency vehicles. Trucks bringing supplies for repairs. People checking in on each other. People coming back from evacuation or leaving to find peace of mind. Also returning to normal life. And it’s not about extra fuel. It’s about maintaining supplies. New shipments aren’t coming in, which means supplies need to be rationed. New shipments come in slower than they would if prices could rise; nobody serving the general population is incentivised to rush. > increases would probably decrease hoarders but it wouldn't turn refineries back on and magically make more gas Emergency shortages are all about distribution, not production. There is plenty of gas in the world in a disaster. It just isn’t making it to disaster victims. (Well, it is. But you have the pay the cab driver cash to pay the guy by Riverside Park for a can at $20/gallon.)

selimthegrim 3y ago

I think it’s a little more complicated than that. I remember fueling up in Chalmette right before Ida, early in the morning, and by the evening or the next day the gas station was out of fuel. Would no price gouging laws have allowed them to inflate the price so much that people couldn’t afford to buy a day early like I did to be able to evacuate?