I agree with you, and would add that a few posters are ignorant of the choke points also. I believe that much of the Gasoline in the greater NY area is refined in Jersey City. These refineries also store significant quantities of fuel. Without power the refineries cannot run, nor can they move fuel to distribution nodes. A large percentage of the Oil they refine comes in from a pipeline(s?) from the west, no power and the pumps on that pipeline do not work.
Once the electricity is restored to those bottle necks the fuel shortage will be quickly alleviated. I doubt that the refineries took significant damage, although they probably were shut down for the storm and I would not be surprised if it takes several days to restart them.
Good post. As an FYI ... the major refinery in this region is the Bayway Refinery in Linden, NJ. It’s along the western side of the NJ Turnpike just south of Exit 13, where the Goethals Bridge touches down in New Jersey at the Turnpike and Routes 1&9.