North American Fuel Shortage Reports

[Cloud9]

Doesn't feel like martial law in Sebring. The LT. Colonel that runs the national guard for all of South Florida was at work at his law firm last Friday.

[ReverseEngineer]

ReverseEngineer said:

This one is going to get out of control, and FAST. Martial Law, and soon. Anyone want to put a date on that bet? I'll go with 2 weeks from today.

Like I posted in the Is the world economy collapsing NOW? thread, it is likely that it will be done by shutting down the nation’s banking system on a financial crisis excuse. The media has been proclaiming the problems plaguing the banking sector to its full potential. It is on TV, on the radio and is all that is being talked about in Congress, on the streets and in the local papers. The PTB advertise their intentions in advance if you pay attention to what they say, and what they don’t say.

There is almost no mention of the larger more serious problem; the country’s inventory of refined finished petroleum products has been almost completely depleted. I doubt that they can keep this charade going for another 10 days. It appears that most of the country will be out of gas in 5.

There will be a two day bank “holiday”. The two days will get extended, and extended, and extended. When it's over, there will no longer be a United States of America. There will be something, but in time we will realize that it is nothing that we recognize.

People will even be happy that our dedicated and loyal bureaucrats saved us from famine, and pestilence. It will be a while before they learn the truth!

If indeed what your projections are based on the numbers you see (you track this far better than I do and I tend tobelieve your analysis) , I would ask you the following:
How does the US Gooberment respond to this when they have not clerly been able to respond to even a localized disturbance of the social order like Katrina?

How is order maintained here in individual communities? The Feds obviously cannot even GET there, besides there are not enough of them. The local cops don't have GAS for the squad cars. How is order maintained here?

Reverse Engineer

[shortonoil]

TheDude said:

Indeed this is cutting it a bit close.

I think it is quite revealing that the Bush administration refused an emergency loan to Entergy after Ike struck. They knew the company was almost bankrupt before the hurricane arrived. That certainly did not expedite the repair of the grid.

Then there is the fact that the media has downplayed the seriousness of the situation, and even though several governors have said that rationing would be necessary nothing has come of it. The inventory has been allowed to plummet in the face of an obvious problem. National rationing should have been put in place 2 weeks ago.

This list goes on and on, and even though it can be contributed to government incompetence, it is hard to believe that even our bone heads in Washington can be this stupid. Got to call a spade is a spade here. We are being set up!

[DantesPeak]

The reaction of the federal government is indeed strange, to say the least.

Since the EIA itself said, in a rare pre-announcement, to be prepared for a huge drop in gasoline inventories, and with 15 states requesting fuel waivers, the shortage problem can not be a secret.

Look at this story from Florida:

As economy slumps, green eyeshades become all the rage in Tallahassee
Aaron Deslatte | Capitol View
September 21, 2008

But, as Tallahassee witnessed in its Hurricane Ike-inspired gas shortage, actions speak louder.

In the case of gas, one e-mail from a state employee warning friends to fuel up their cars to avoid a pending gasoline shortage fueled a regionwide buying panic, draining stations dry from Gainesville to the capital.

Meanwhile, though state officials want the public to behave as if nothing's wrong, their own ramped-up attempts to demonstrate fiscal prudence are sending another message.

Orlando Sentinel

One can help but think hiding this problem is politically related, possibly to help push the legislative agenda, or even to provide cover for a more serious financial crisis coming soon.

[Dan1195]

At this point the most significant problems appear to be in the southeast. Up here in New England have not noticed any problems. I was wondering though if we do hit the MOL for the pipeline that feeds this area, woundn't the gasoline then not make it to the end of the line. Or is this simply a matter that this area is simply getting by on existing stocks and refined products already flowing when the everything had to be shut.

[GoghGoner]

Seems like since Turner broadcasting is headquartered in Atlanta that maybe some national news would do a little more reporting. But no...

At a RaceTrac gas station on Dallas Highway in Marietta, lines stretched for nearly two miles down the road and the police had to be called in to control the traffic Saturday evening.

MyFox Atlanta

[GoghGoner]

Looks like diesel is more of a problem for Flying J than unleaded. That could lead to an early Halloween.

Flying J

[ReverseEngineer]

One can help but think hiding this problem is politically related, possibly to help push the legislative agenda, or even to provide cover for a more serious financial crisis coming soon.

What? There is a MORE serious financial crisis than the Global Economic Meltdown we already are witnessing? Jupiter is going Bnkrupt ALSO? We have to bail out the Milky Way? The Taxpayer absorbs the debt of the entire known UNIVERSE? What?

Reverse Engineer

[Byron100]

Seems like since Turner broadcasting is headquartered in Atlanta that maybe some national news would do a little more reporting. But no...

At a RaceTrac gas station on Dallas Highway in Marietta, lines stretched for nearly two miles down the road and the police had to be called in to control the traffic Saturday evening.

MyFox Atlanta

Will someone tell me why people are waiting in 2-mile lines in one part of the city while I can hop in my car right now and top off my tank at 3 different stations with zero wait?? (I checked them out this am when I went out for breakfast.)

I guess us folks on the NE side are a bit more laid-back than the folks that live in Marietta...hehe. Sure is scary, though, to have this happening so close to where I live...

[ReverseEngineer]

Looks like diesel is more of a problem for Flying J than unleaded. That could lead to an early Halloween.

Flying J

If the Flying J, TA, Petro and Pilot start ahving troule with diesel supplies, we are on a short road to compelte ANARCHY.

You drive a Big Rig this is where you fuel up, where you SLEEP in fact all over the country. I LIVED in those truckstops for 5 years.

If I hear about thsi today from friends here on the board, I think it cannot be more than 2-3 days before it becomes aparent in the major media. This is bad. VERY BAD.

Reverse Engineer

[FloridaGirl]

I saw an article on CNN yesterday afternoon that talked about the gas shortages. They said the shortages were caused by rumours and that there was no real gas shortage. It was caused by everyone rushing to fill up their tanks at once.

CNN said they checked on the Colonial pipeline on it was fine. There was no shortage.

The online article associated with the video has a link that talks about an Internet Hate group called Anonymous that is spreading the rumour causing the run on the gas stations.

Well, yeah, the pipeline is fine, but CNN said nothing about the reduced flow. They said nothing about the refineries that were down due to the hurricanes. CNN is bound to know the truth. What is their motive for covering it up?

[DantesPeak]

One can help but think hiding this problem is politically related, possibly to help push the legislative agenda, or even to provide cover for a more serious financial crisis coming soon.

What? There is a MORE serious financial crisis than the Global Economic Meltdown we already are witnessing? Jupiter is going Bnkrupt ALSO? We have to bail out the Milky Way? The Taxpayer absorbs the debt of the entire known UNIVERSE? What?

Reverse Engineer

Two possible more serious problems:

1. Transportation fuel shortgae leading to a shutdown of the economy

2. Dollar meltdown

Although not likely, both are possible.

[DantesPeak]

I saw an article on CNN yesterday afternoon that talked about the gas shortages. They said the shortages were caused by rumours and that there was no real gas shortage. It was caused by everyone rushing to fill up their tanks at once.

CNN said they checked on the Colonial pipeline on it was fine. There was no shortage.

The online article associated with the video has a link that talks about an Internet Hate group called Anonymous that is spreading the rumour causing the run on the gas stations.

Well, yeah, the pipeline is fine, but CNN said nothing about the reduced flow. They said nothing about the refineries that were down due to the hurricanes. CNN is bound to know the truth. What is their motive for covering it up?

The Colonial Pipeline did suffer some hurricane related damage from the hurricanes, but it was not serious and was repaired. It also suffered from power outages at various points, but that problem was mostly resolved a few days ago.

Even after that the flow is still reduced. Using the EIA weekly inventory figures reported last Wednesday, gasoline supplies in the SE and central Atlantic were extremely low.

So the shortage wasn't caused by panic,a lthough panic could result from a shortage.

[the48thronin]

just in time becomes just too late....

The ramifications are awesome!

[the48thronin]

Hurricane Ike has caused severe supply disruptions to various regions of the U.S., most notably the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Refineries in the Gulf region are in the process of restoring power, making repairs, and resuming production. Most oil industry experts expect fuel supply "tightness" for the next week or so.


You can be assured, TravelCenters of America is working around the clock to keep our customers and our locations supplied through this difficult time. Currently, we are running abnormally high volumes due to high traffic and competitive supply outages. Fuel deliveries are being drawn from a wide range of states into these affected areas to minimize supply disruptions. Any and all resources are being utilized to maintain all of our locations remain "wet".


To assist our customers, this web site will be updated frequently throughout this time of supply uncertainty. Updates may occur several times a day. Please note that there may be times where re-supply of a location is imminent (within hours) but that a short periodic outage may occur. Although we expect these situations to be rare, we do want our customers to be aware of this possibility.


We thank you for your understanding and as always, we thank you for your business.


Updated 9/19/2008, 12:30 PM EST


FUEL SUPPLY UPDATES


The following locations are out of product with expectations to be resupplied by early evening today.


TA Knoxville, TN


I-40 & I-75 @ Exit 374


TA Candler, NC


I-40 Exit 37

link

[shortonoil]

the48thronin said:

Hurricane Ike has caused severe supply disruptions to various regions of the U.S., most notably the Gulf Coast and Southeast. Refineries in the Gulf region are in the process of restoring power, making repairs, and resuming production. Most oil industry experts expect fuel supply "tightness" for the next week or so.

We know that the Gulf refineries have lost over 70 mb of production since Gustav hit. We know that both the Continental and the Plantation have been running at 60% capacity or less since the hurricane. We know that there are extreme shortages cropping up all over the South East.

We get, “Most oil industry experts expect fuel supply "tightness" for the next week or so.”. Am I the only one who is sick of having their intelligence insulted? It is much more likely that we are headed for a catastrophe than a “tightness”!

If people die from lack of preparation because of information that they withheld; that sure looks like criminal neglect and should be prosecuted accordingly when the time comes.

[MacG]

Over here in Europe, we see the lowest gasoline prices in four months. And no hiccup in supplies anywhere. Guess that the IEA-mechanisms has not kicked in for some reason. Someone somewhere has decided to let the US sink. Might not be a conscious decision, more like "let the chips fall where they like".

[Byron100]

I honestly can't wait for the pumps to go 100% dry, just to see what would happen around here. Maybe the media will go into freak-out mode and send everybody into a feeding frenzy. "Gotta have gas, gotta have it now!"

At least I'll be able to get around by bus and train, and I have a bike, and my own two feet...heck, what do I need to get gas for anyhow...hehe.

[bl00k]

We get, “Most oil industry experts expect fuel supply "tightness" for the next week or so.”. Am I the only one who is sick of having their intelligence insulted? It is much more likely that we are headed for a catastrophe than a “tightness”!

If people die from lack of preparation because of information that they withheld; that sure looks like criminal neglect and should be prosecuted accordingly when the time comes.

shortonoil, i completey agree. But you probably already know that the policy is to not warn people of serious issues and instead make them fear enemies or dangers that don't exist.

[harrybuckman]

I honestly can't wait for the pumps to go 100% dry, just to see what would happen around here.

The media wouldn't report it until there were riots in the streets. Once they did report it, the blame would be placed on "panic buying "that ran all the pumps dry. It had nothing to do with a production loss cause by the hurricanes, the hurricanes missed, no damage.

I absolutely love how the US government manipulated the media and everything else they could to lower the price of oil. Only they forgot that many of the larger investment companies were holding lots of oil futures, hedges etc. In turn they just about dumped all of Wall Street and ended up blaming it on the "Mortgage Crisis".

I am I the only one who saw this play out?