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Shortage fears fuel long lines; prices top $3

From staff reports

An unfounded — yet, detailed — rumor apparently sparked a gas-buying panic in Athens today, as locals rushed to stores to buy up fuel.

The panic caused long lines, tense nerves and shortages at some stations, but suppliers and store owners said the widespread concern that local retailers would stop selling gas at 3 p.m. was false.

The long lines at many gas stations continued well after 4 p.m., however, as motorists raced to fill up their gas tanks to beat a string of price increases during the day.

Motorists saw steep price increases at gas stations all over town - some topping $3 a gallon - as area wholesalers reacted to steep hikes on the gasoline commodity market.

But the rumor that local retailers would stop selling at 3 p.m. may have created an area gasoline shortage, said Bobby Tweedell of Tweedell & Van Buren Oil Co. The supplier had about a five-day supply of gasoline on hand, but today’s run on gasoline meant the supply could run out late Friday or early Saturday, Tweedell said.

The pipeline that supplies oil to the area was shut down by Hurricane Katrina, but will reportedly resume pumping Sunday, he said.

Overreaction by Athens-area drivers to the unfounded rumor has exacerbated pressure on an already thin distribution system, said Harriett Lay with Lay Brothers Oil in Athens.

"This panic is not doing anything but making things worse," Lay said. "We have no idea where the rumor (about gas stations closing at a certain time) started, but I sure would like to get my hands on the idiot that started it."

YES! Chaos, panic, pandemonium reign supreme, my work is done.

Did you hear they were going to stop selling milk at noon tomorrow? It seems that the pipeline is down. It was overwhelmed due to the sudden demand of bread and milk that happens during times of crises. So you better run out RIGHT NOW and buy all the bread and milk you can get your hands on if you want to have bread and milk before it runs out.