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Florida DOT seeks solutions to fuel shortages during evacuations
Equipment World's Better Roads ^ | October 31, 2017 | Don McLoud

Posted on 11/03/2017 11:12:26 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

A few weeks after calling on the Florida Department of Transportation to re-examine hurricane evacuation routes, Gov. Rick Scott is now directing the agency to look for ways to increase fuel capacity during such emergencies.

During evacuations for Hurricane Irma, gas stations around the state reported running out of fuel. Scott said the FDOT study, which would be submitted in January, address such shortages and how to overcome them.

“Last month, 6.8 million Floridians evacuated in preparation for Hurricane Irma, the largest evacuation in U.S. history, and we are committed to making sure our state remains fully prepared for any potential disaster,” Scott said in a statement. “Increasing the availability of fuel for evacuations at Florida gas stations is a top priority, and I look forward to reviewing FDOT’s findings.”

FDOT will work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers on how to increase fuel capacity during emergencies, the statement says.

Before and after Irma’s arrival, Scott had ordered law enforcement to escort fuel trucks. At one point, more than half of gas stations in South Florida and up into Jacksonville reported being out of fuel. After the storm, the state’s ports were out of commission and could not accept fuel shipments, which exacerbated the post-Irma fuel shortage.

Scott also hopes to improve evacuation routes from the Interstate 75/Florida Turnpike Interchange near Wildwood to the Florida-Georgia state line and has directed FDOT to work with other agencies to look for solutions. That report is also expected in January.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: evacuations; fuel; hurricanes; infrastructure; irma; routes; shortages; transportation
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To: Svartalfiar
Tankers can’t deliver fuel when all the highways lanes are one-way leave town.

Gas stations along interstate highways are at interchanges. Why would tanker trucks ever have to drive on the interstate? Couldn't they just come to the interchange by way of the intersecting cross road?

41 posted on 11/03/2017 2:23:28 PM PDT by Freee-dame (Best election ever.)
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To: CGASMIA68; AppyPappy; editor-surveyor

Florida from top to bottom is less than 400 miles. Most people should be able to get out of the state on a single tank. Someone in the Everglades would need 1-2 fuel cans and they’d be fine, considering most vehicles get around 300 miles to the tank.


42 posted on 11/03/2017 2:24:40 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: Svartalfiar

Well maybe a bit more than 1-2cans. I’m thinking the 5gal Army-style fuel cans


43 posted on 11/03/2017 2:29:40 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: Freee-dame

How are the tankers getting to those intersecting roads? Are they taking back roads the 200+ miles to get down into the peninsula? Which are probably also decently backed up from everyone trying to bypass the congested highway?


44 posted on 11/03/2017 2:32:16 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: CGASMIA68

I’m not stupid enough to live in a place where I have to evacuate and then look around wondering who will take care of me.


45 posted on 11/03/2017 2:34:50 PM PDT by AppyPappy (Don't mistake your dorm political discussions with the desires of the nation)
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To: Svartalfiar; CGASMIA68; AppyPappy

.
Are you just ignoring the fact that most people have less than 1/2 tank of fuel, and 1/2 loves of bread on the shelf?
.


46 posted on 11/03/2017 2:44:45 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: AppyPappy
.
>> “I’m not stupid enough to live in a place where I have to evacuate and then look around wondering who will take care of me.” <<

You radical right wing dingbats are all the same /s

47 posted on 11/03/2017 2:48:04 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Last Hurricane some people were afraid to leave because they were concerned about getting gas on the road... For me - coming back after the evacuation was the problem - we didn't run into one open gas station or restaurant... Luckily we started with a full tank. I'm thankful Gov. Rick Scott is looking into this...
48 posted on 11/03/2017 2:53:46 PM PDT by GOPJ ( http://fakehatecrimes.org/ - List of fake hate crimes against traditional/conservative Americans)
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To: Svartalfiar

Yea on a good day with out bumper to bumper traffic coupled with break downs and overheat shitboxes.
Nope stay put as I did for 40 years and never regretted it


49 posted on 11/03/2017 3:59:24 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: AppyPappy
No but your obviously smart enough sarc to have all the answers for those that are stupid enough live in a place like that and too stupid to figure it out on there own..
50 posted on 11/03/2017 4:02:04 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: GOPJ

the exact reason I never left.I lived on the east side of the intercostal and once those bridges went up they stayed up for days and even if you had no damage you couldn’t get back, we never left


51 posted on 11/03/2017 4:03:53 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: editor-surveyor

whatever that means


52 posted on 11/03/2017 4:04:59 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: CGASMIA68

.
Go back to sleep.
.


53 posted on 11/03/2017 4:16:55 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: AppyPappy

When we evacuate we take clothing, water, kids, pets and other supplies. There’s no room for gas cans...


54 posted on 11/03/2017 8:11:41 PM PDT by GOPJ ( http://fakehatecrimes.org/ - List of fake hate crimes against traditional/conservative Americans)
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To: CGASMIA68

sorry - price controls never solve supply shortages.

motor traffic jams were North bound only. not south bound


55 posted on 11/03/2017 10:33:34 PM PDT by vooch (America First Drain the Swamp)
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To: vooch

At a point in time they make N&S N bound.

Just one story and there is a term for it also:

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/36325870/i-75-sb-express-lanes-reversed-to-northbound-in-georgia-only


56 posted on 11/04/2017 6:40:02 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: GOPJ

Well why not gosh you sound like some idiot that lives in an area subject to evacuations and dependent on the Gov (sarc)


57 posted on 11/04/2017 6:41:35 AM PDT by CGASMIA68
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To: CGASMIA68

LOL - yep, that thar’s right...


58 posted on 11/04/2017 10:26:35 AM PDT by GOPJ ( http://fakehatecrimes.org/ - List of fake hate crimes against traditional/conserva tive Americans)
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To: editor-surveyor
Are you just ignoring the fact that most people have less than 1/2 tank of fuel, and 1/2 loves of bread on the shelf?

Yes. Obviously someone on half a tank isn't going to go 300 miles. But that's besides my point. Getting out of the evacuation zone there shouldn't have been that much of a fuel issue. Yes, people would need to top off and I doubt stations have enough gas to do that for everyone. But it shouldn'thave been such the issue that it was / that this article is about.
59 posted on 11/05/2017 7:42:30 AM PST by Svartalfiar
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To: CGASMIA68

express lanes only and even that only for a short time


60 posted on 11/05/2017 11:14:39 AM PST by vooch (America First Drain the Swamp)
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