I have a feeling that every major shortage starts with sporadic shortages.

Storm brings $3 gas to some Mich. stations (link) BY ALEJANDRO BODIPO-MEMBA FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER 31 Aug 2005
...skip... While there were lines of two or three cars waiting to fill up at some stations Tuesday, officials at AAA Michigan don't want consumers to panic.
"There may be spot shortages here and there, but it's a temporary issue until we see what happens with refinery production," said Jim Rink, a spokesman for AAA Michigan.
"To preserve inventories, some producers are slowing down production so they don't run out of inventory," he said.
"Consumers shouldn't panic, because if they do they will create a full-blown shortage and then no one will have any gas. We want to avoid a situation where a short-term problem turns into a more severe one."
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Buncombe County residents asked to conserve fuel (link)
AP State News 31 Aug 2005 1:42AM
Residents of one western North Carolina county were asked to conserve fuel and government agencies were told to limit nonessential travel because of the possible effect of Hurricane Katrina on fuel and natural gas supplies.
Jerry VeHaun, Buncombe County emergency services director, said in a statement Tuesday that fuel and natural gas pipelines in Mississippi and Louisiana that provide fuel to suppliers in western North Carolina have lost power.

Officials estimate that power may be restored in 24 to 48 hours, although crews continue to evaluate pipelines, VeHaun said.
"Don't make any unnecessary trips until this is over," VeHaun advised residents "It's not going to be a long-term thing, I don't think."
Under further updates are available - which should occur Wednesday - the city and county will limit nonessential travel that doesn't impact public safety and health services, VeHaun said.
"If it's a critical service, for example the emergency service - fire, law enforcement, EMS - it won't affect that service," VeHaun said. "But other departments that have vehicles, they'll only be making what's absolutely necessary."

If the shortage continues, VeHaun said, officials may halt social services inspections, building inspections and other services.
Madison County may also take measures to conserve fuel, said Stewart Coats, director of emergency management.
Asheville's buses were expected to run on schedule Wednesday, city spokeswoman Lauren Bradley said, and city officials will try to maintain bus service when they re-evaluate conservation efforts Wednesday.
VeHaun also urged citizens not to react to the power outage until additional information is available.

Effects of the threat of a fuel shortage were felt across North Carolina. For example, along West Wendover Avenue in Greensboro, some places already were charging $3 for regular unleaded gas Tuesday night.
Wholesale gas prices from the Gulf of Mexico, where the Charlotte region gets most of its gas, reached $3 a gallon Tuesday.
"If I pay $3 for it, I'll have to charge $3 for it," said Jim Crump, who runs nine convenience stores in Hickory, Lenoir and Morganton.
Even though Wilmington may be affected less than the rest of the state - its gasoline supply arrives by tanker or barge - prices still jumped Tuesday and a wholesaler warned of possible temporary shortages.

Bill Hobbs of Wilmington sells to convenience stores and some major retailers. He said individual stations may run out of gas at times but that drivers probably will be able to fill up if they check back.
Lewis Efird, president of Gastonia-based United Oil of the Carolinas, said motorists should expect to see gas, especially regular, run out for a day or so at some stations late this week.
Tiara Kitt skipped an early-morning fill-up Tuesday morning when the price at a nearby convenience store was $2.49 per gallon. Three hours later, at 8 a.m., the price was $2.65 a gallon at the same store, she said.
"I don't have a choice," Kitt said as she filled up the tank of her Ford Windstar.

Sales at Greenville gas stations were slower Tuesday afternoon than they were Monday night, when vehicles lined up, sometimes more than 20 at a time at area stations, to fill up.
The average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline, which was around $2.57 Monday, was anywhere from $2.57 to $2.83 by Tuesday afternoon.
At the Trade Mart on 10th Street, East Carolina University student Safa Sheppherd was filling up her car after the station's regular unleaded supplies were replenished about 2 p.m. The station, however, was still out of plus gasoline.
Sheppherd said though she was not concerned about an increase, she was with about seven of her Kappa Delta sorority sisters Monday evening waiting in lines during the rush.
"I don't believe in all the hype," Sheppherd said. "I am against the rush."

Katrina's effect on power means Fla. brownouts (link)
Robert Perez | Sentinel Staff Writer 31 Aug 2005
Florida utility companies began rationing power Tuesday to hundreds of thousands of customers because of disruptions in natural-gas supplies caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Utility officials, who asked all customers in Florida to conserve electricity, warned that shortages could affect the state's ability to produce power for weeks and possibly months.

The brownouts are targeting homes, businesses and government offices that participate in voluntary energy-management programs. Power is being cut temporarily to air conditioners, water heaters and pool pumps during peak-demand periods.
Power is not being shut off completely to anyone and those not in an energy-saving program are unaffected.
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ketzl
2005-08-31 I live in Athens, which might have even more severe fuel shortages than Atlanta. I went to fill up last night and the gas station attendant was freaking out. He said their gas supplier told him their shipment's going to be cut from 3x/week to 2x/week for now, and that if their pumps run dry they can be damaged, so what's gonna happen? Well, we'll see. I'm gonna keep my tank as close to full as I can, limit trips (fortunately I telecommute 100%) and make sure my pantry's full.

Hey, I don't know about anyone else, but I peruse and am part of a few other messageboard websites..
others are starting to put two and two together.. gas prices roughly across the board have on average risen .40 cents a gallon in less than 24 hours, with another .30 cent a gallon increase expected. Katrina isn't the cause of all of this, or if she is, she is only the harbringer of things to come.. Dammit, I wish I had planted a garden this past year, but am damn sure doing it this spring.. and while some may be wondering about the price of gas..I am far more concerned about the price of groceries..I do have food..but am going to be getting more..and buying seeds. I heard some talking about organic seeds being far better than the 'monsanto' ...why and can you point me to places online to buy the best seeds for vegetables from? ty.

I challenge anyone to find a fuel efficient vehicle in the photo above. I see NONE ... I can't even see one in the far background.

Bush to address nation, ask for fuel conservation