So this could be problematic

[B2G]

Irma is heading god knows where, but it could impact CONUS in 7-10 days. The Colonial Pipeline, which provides the South with 40% of its gas supply, is being shutdown today. No ETA for restoration.

Imagine Irma bearing down on the South with folks unable to fill up their tanks to evacuate. My daughter who lives in Wilmington is about to receive instructions not to let her tank drop below half full until we know where Irma is going.

If you live on the east coast, I suggest you do the same. This is my PSA for the day.

http://www.wcnc.com/money/consumer/southern-gasoline-pipeline-to-shut-down-due-to-harvey/469579079

[Not Ruth]

1. Evacuate early is my advice

[VigilantG]

2. What? But there is no climate change!

Please evacuate early!

[Achilleaze]

3. You must be listening to republicans

republican lies are so terribly dangerous for America and Americans. It's a freaking crime.

[VigilantG]

5. Yes it is!!! Unbelievable!

[B2G]

4. We are in the middle of peak hurricane season.

Keeping your gas tank topped off is common sense if there is a threat looming. But it might be more difficult in the coming weeks with refineries offline.

[Lee-Lee]

6. Anyone who lives in any area with evacuation possibilities

Needs to have gas stored in cans for that possibility. Enough to get you out of the danger area if you can't buy more.

[jberryhill]

8. Lets assume that each unit of a 1000 unit apartment complex has full gasoline cans stored inside

Over a period of, say, five years, what would you consider the greatest risk to that complex to be.

[Lee-Lee]

10. Find other places to store it

Friends home with a garage, rental storage unit (split cost with others and a $35 a month unit can be $5 a month and everyone can have some there), or it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the managers of the complex arrange a shed or other storage.

Where there is a will, there is a way. If someone wants to do it they will find it.

[jberryhill]

11. You can't store gasoline in a rental storage unit

Good golly, that would be a disaster waiting to happen.

Yeah, let's have a 1000 people store gas cans in a shed...

[B2G]

15. I think the point is that if you can safely store it, you should.

Better advice is to keep enough gas in your car to safely get away from the source of danger.

A can of gas isn't going to get you very far anyway.

[B2G]

9. Yep.

If my daughter has a half tank, she can safely make it to our house. That child scares me...most of her time is spent running on fumes.

[jpak]

13. Before Katrina hit - I filled my tank and had 20 gal in portables in the truck

That would get me fro FL to Atlanta without stopping.

[VigilantG]

7. Being in AZ, I'm pretty safe from most natural disasters,

But I have had my yards flooded out being near washes in the dry deserts. Had share of tornadoes in IN, so I feel fairly safe here, but always aware of potential threats.

I know Houston did not have a mandatory evacuation, but if I saw that much rain coming, I would've left the area for a while. I understand not everyone has the resources to do it, and believe me I'm on a fixed income, but living in the hurricane affected areas, it seems like you would always want to have an alternate plan. I even have a plan to evacuate to northern Arizona in the case of some other tragedy that would cause power outages here in the Phoenix area.

My thoughts go out to everyone affected by this disaster!

[jpak]

12. After Katrina there was NO gasoline available on the Gulf Coast from Destin FL to Lake Charles LA

For nearly a month - if Rita had hit LA, MS, AL or Pensacola - no one would have been able to evacuate.

Deja vu all over again

[B2G]

14. Exactly. nt

[raven mad]

16. All the many years I lived in Florida, we did the fill tanks WHEN there was just a possibility.

It worked out well - in many hurricanes, Donna being the first one I recall clearly. I was 6. We were on Merritt Island. Got out way before the drawbridges shut down.

Thanks, daddy.

To this day, many many many years later? I still stay prepared. Not hurricanes anymore, I'm not where one could effect any direct damage. But cold, snow, floods, earthquake? Prepared. I was never a Girl Scout, but I was Air Force, which just slammed home the necessity for being ready.

Please, B2G, continue these reminders.

[B2G]

17. Thanks Raven, I will.

Finding gas can be problematic during evacuations under the best of circumstances. If there is 40% less gas available to start with, it's going to be a nightmare and people will be stuck.

[raven mad]

18. We are all hoping that you're all going to be okay.

It's a horrible situation. But, this time, it's not the "gubmint", it's ALL of us pulling, donating, and volunteering for you. Because? Hell, you're ours.