“They should have been positioning massive quantities of bottled water a week ago when it became over 50 percent certain that Sandy was going to make landfall.”
They probably had it set aside for the marathon, and put it aside for next year (it should “keep”). Maybe the mayor thought the gallon jugs were too big...
If a few thousand people get fuel from this, then it helps that much more; I don’t think you understand the scale of this. Have you seen the people pushing vehicles up to the pumps?
We had adequate warning (even when the path of the storm became more clear), but there is still no way to adequately prepare an area with so many people for this without drastic steps. I believe the government is trying to get things back to normal so people can work, etc., but they’d probably do more good by simply suspending driving altogether (which would make it difficult to shop, impossible to get to wrok, etc.), but if schools are closed anyway the impact wouldn’t be so bad.
I don’t have all of the answers; I was as prepared as possible, and have no “wish list” of things I didn’t set aside except a second home in another state(I’m a closet prepper who loves backpacking). The simple truth is that is logistically impossible to stock up on mass gasoline supplies (and probably illegal beyond a certain point in terms of nearby structures and safety issues), and gasoline does break down chemically - you don’t just sock it away for years like Civil Defense crackers.
Also, NJ does not allow self-serve. I've read accounts of where a station opened but was not fully staffed, increasing wait times.
But beyond those factors, you could deploy generators to gas stations without power so they can pump gas. Instead, Geraldo is looking for a generator so the fish in his koi pond don't freeze.
This should have been wargamed and a logistical plan worked out for emergency distribution of fuel. It isn't just nature at work here.