Anti Federalist
11-01-2012, 02:11 PM
Hurricane Sandy: Gas shortage spawns long lines, fistfights, price gouging
Originally published: November 1, 2012 11:18 AM
Updated: November 1, 2012 3:44 PM
http://newyork.newsday.com/news/hurricane-sandy-gas-shortage-spawns-long-lines-fistfights-price-gouging-1.4176976?qr=1&qr=1&qr=1
Power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy coupled with consumer panic has led to a run on gasoline throughout the Hudson Valley, as motorists across the region hit the road frantically searching for gas stations that haven't run out.
Those that found them end up idling in long lines that in some cases stretch for a mile in either direction. There have been reports of price gouging in Rockland County and even violence at some gas stations between unruly customers.
A fistfight broke out Wednesday between customers at the Getty station on Route 59 in Monsey, and traffic stretched for at least half a mile on both sides of the road Thursday morning as customers rushed to the only functioning station in the area, said Chiam Tzik, the station's manager. He was directing long lines of traffic in a bright orange vest.
"These things bring out the best and worst in people," he said. "This is going to get ugly before it gets better."
Relief could be on the way, however, as the U.S. Coast Guard reopened the Port of New York and New Jersey Thursday afternoon in an effort to increase fuel deliveries after the hurricane strangled regional gas supplies. The port, which was closed ahead of the storm, received its first petroleum shipment at 7 a.m. and a second at noon, officials said.
For many waiting in line to fill up or get gas for their generators on Thursday, tensions ran high as station attendants turned into traffic cops.
Jessica Peters, of Montvale, N.J., had joined the line at the Getty station hoping to fill up her tank, and found people honking their horns and gesturing with their hands as harried store workers tried to get motorists to form an orderly line down the street.
"This is crazy," said the 35-year-old secretary, who said she was running on empty after spending the morning looking for an open station. "I've never seen anything like this. People are acting like animals."
Utilities reported 355,509 Hudson Valley customers still without power Thursday morning, down from about a half million immediately after Monday's storm.
Down the street, a Super Value ran out of gas Wednesday, and despite having power, they haven't been able get more from their regional distributor.
"It's not the power, we're having delivery problems," said Alex Ereifj, a 25-year-old store clerk. "People have been coming from New Jersey looking for gas. I don't know what to tell them."
In a crisis -- especially among a population not used to a hurricane's full force -- customers tend to stock up more on gas, which pressures existing supplies, analysts say. And when power outages disable retailers, supplies get strained quickly. Even stations that have received fresh supplies quickly found themselves running on empty.
"It's extremely typical," said Gregg Laskoski, a senior petroleum analyst at Gas Buddy. "We see this virtually every time there's a major storm or a hurricane."
Ron Levine, a spokesman for Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, said the county has been getting reports from consumers about price gouging by unscrupulous gas station owners jacking up prices as high as $5 a gallon in some places.
He said the county's consumer protection bureau is investigating numerous claims of overpricing.
"We will not tolerate it, especially in times of crisis when people are in need," Levine said. "It's unacceptable."
A gasoline supply at the Mobil station in Goshen that arrived Thursday morning was on the verge of running out by early afternoon, said Sam Saleh, the manager of the Greenwich Avenue station. With at least 20 cars waiting in line -- along with scores of customers clutching containers -- Saleh called his Newburgh distributor looking for a refill, only to be told that there's no supply available for Thursday night, and Friday's chances are far from certain.
Still, he's managed to keep the same prices -- $3.99 for a regular gallon -- steady since Sunday, despite frantic demand.
"(The customers) are all frustrated," he said. "They're angry, and they're worried about when they're going to get gas."
Meanwhile, across the street, a Gulf station has been out of gas since Sunday, and the Linden, N.J.-based supplier told station manager Faiz Isa that gasoline might not be available until Thanksgiving.
At the 76 gas station in Yonkers, located at the corner of Kimball and McLean avenues, customers waited as long as 40 minutes Thursday, only to learn shortly after 10 a.m. that the station had run out of gas.
Many of the drivers had already visited four or five gas stations in the area, and waited in line after they discovered 76 still had electricity, News12 reported.
Back in Monsey, across the street from the Super Value, the Shell station had handwritten signs on the pumps: "Sorry, no gas."
Eric Dengan, of Monsey, pulled up to the Shell station in a pickup truck filled with small gas canisters. He needed gas for his home generator.
"Nothing?" he asked the harried-looking clerk behind the counter, who shook his head.
He got back in his truck and screeched the tires as he drove away.
Originally published: November 1, 2012 11:18 AM
Updated: November 1, 2012 3:44 PM
http://newyork.newsday.com/news/hurricane-sandy-gas-shortage-spawns-long-lines-fistfights-price-gouging-1.4176976?qr=1&qr=1&qr=1
Power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy coupled with consumer panic has led to a run on gasoline throughout the Hudson Valley, as motorists across the region hit the road frantically searching for gas stations that haven't run out.
Those that found them end up idling in long lines that in some cases stretch for a mile in either direction. There have been reports of price gouging in Rockland County and even violence at some gas stations between unruly customers.
A fistfight broke out Wednesday between customers at the Getty station on Route 59 in Monsey, and traffic stretched for at least half a mile on both sides of the road Thursday morning as customers rushed to the only functioning station in the area, said Chiam Tzik, the station's manager. He was directing long lines of traffic in a bright orange vest.
"These things bring out the best and worst in people," he said. "This is going to get ugly before it gets better."
Relief could be on the way, however, as the U.S. Coast Guard reopened the Port of New York and New Jersey Thursday afternoon in an effort to increase fuel deliveries after the hurricane strangled regional gas supplies. The port, which was closed ahead of the storm, received its first petroleum shipment at 7 a.m. and a second at noon, officials said.
For many waiting in line to fill up or get gas for their generators on Thursday, tensions ran high as station attendants turned into traffic cops.
Jessica Peters, of Montvale, N.J., had joined the line at the Getty station hoping to fill up her tank, and found people honking their horns and gesturing with their hands as harried store workers tried to get motorists to form an orderly line down the street.
"This is crazy," said the 35-year-old secretary, who said she was running on empty after spending the morning looking for an open station. "I've never seen anything like this. People are acting like animals."
Utilities reported 355,509 Hudson Valley customers still without power Thursday morning, down from about a half million immediately after Monday's storm.
Down the street, a Super Value ran out of gas Wednesday, and despite having power, they haven't been able get more from their regional distributor.
"It's not the power, we're having delivery problems," said Alex Ereifj, a 25-year-old store clerk. "People have been coming from New Jersey looking for gas. I don't know what to tell them."
In a crisis -- especially among a population not used to a hurricane's full force -- customers tend to stock up more on gas, which pressures existing supplies, analysts say. And when power outages disable retailers, supplies get strained quickly. Even stations that have received fresh supplies quickly found themselves running on empty.
"It's extremely typical," said Gregg Laskoski, a senior petroleum analyst at Gas Buddy. "We see this virtually every time there's a major storm or a hurricane."
Ron Levine, a spokesman for Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, said the county has been getting reports from consumers about price gouging by unscrupulous gas station owners jacking up prices as high as $5 a gallon in some places.
He said the county's consumer protection bureau is investigating numerous claims of overpricing.
"We will not tolerate it, especially in times of crisis when people are in need," Levine said. "It's unacceptable."
A gasoline supply at the Mobil station in Goshen that arrived Thursday morning was on the verge of running out by early afternoon, said Sam Saleh, the manager of the Greenwich Avenue station. With at least 20 cars waiting in line -- along with scores of customers clutching containers -- Saleh called his Newburgh distributor looking for a refill, only to be told that there's no supply available for Thursday night, and Friday's chances are far from certain.
Still, he's managed to keep the same prices -- $3.99 for a regular gallon -- steady since Sunday, despite frantic demand.
"(The customers) are all frustrated," he said. "They're angry, and they're worried about when they're going to get gas."
Meanwhile, across the street, a Gulf station has been out of gas since Sunday, and the Linden, N.J.-based supplier told station manager Faiz Isa that gasoline might not be available until Thanksgiving.
At the 76 gas station in Yonkers, located at the corner of Kimball and McLean avenues, customers waited as long as 40 minutes Thursday, only to learn shortly after 10 a.m. that the station had run out of gas.
Many of the drivers had already visited four or five gas stations in the area, and waited in line after they discovered 76 still had electricity, News12 reported.
Back in Monsey, across the street from the Super Value, the Shell station had handwritten signs on the pumps: "Sorry, no gas."
Eric Dengan, of Monsey, pulled up to the Shell station in a pickup truck filled with small gas canisters. He needed gas for his home generator.
"Nothing?" he asked the harried-looking clerk behind the counter, who shook his head.
He got back in his truck and screeched the tires as he drove away.