Gas Shortage Continues To Plague Southeast

ATLANTA (AP) - Motorists in parts of the Southeast are starved
for gasoline.
A hurricane-induced gasoline shortage that was expected to last
only a few days is dragging into its third week, and experts say it
could persist into mid-October. The Atlanta area has been hit
particularly hard, along with Nashville and western North Carolina.
Those lucky enough to find gas are paying more for it than
drivers elsewhere.
The shortage started with Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which shut
down refineries along the Gulf Coast. Many refineries are still
making fuel at reduced levels.
The Southeast relies heavily on two pipelines from the Gulf
Coast. Because the gasoline moves slowly, it can take up to 10 days
to reach Atlanta.
Panicky drivers in the hardest-hit areas often top off their
tanks every time they pass an open station. And that's made matters
worse.
One gas station in downtown Atlanta had police officers and a
security guard on duty.