Gas Shortages Plague Florida Following Hurricane Milton

Following the landfall of Hurricane Milton in Florida, the state is grappling with significant gasoline shortages. As of Friday morning, nearly 29% of Florida’s gas stations, approximately 2,320 out of 8,000, were out of fuel, according to GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan. The hardest-hit areas include Tampa and St. Petersburg, where 73% of gas stations were without fuel, and Sarasota, where 54% of stations were empty.

The shortages are largely attributed to the disruption caused by Hurricane Milton, which damaged infrastructure and led to widespread power outages. Port Tampa Bay, a critical hub for petroleum imports, remains closed due to road closures and flood concerns in the surrounding area. Although the port avoided significant damage to its docks, it lacks the necessary power to operate its oil terminals, further exacerbating the fuel shortage.

Experts predict that the gas shortages will persist for several days. The return of gasoline supplies is hindered by the need to restore power to gas stations, as they require electricity to pump fuel from storage tanks. Over 3.4 million customers in Florida are currently without power, complicating the recovery efforts. Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at OPIS, expects the situation to normalize by Tuesday or Wednesday, estimating that it will take about 72 hours to fully resolve the gas crisis.

In the meantime, residents are advised to avoid unnecessary trips to gas stations. Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, suggested that motorists who do not need gas should wait to visit a station to alleviate the pressure on the already strained fuel supply). For those in urgent need, resources like the Gas Buddy App and local reports are being used to locate operational gas stations).