http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/08/report-gas-pump.htmlOriginal posting at 12:41 p.m. ET: Many of the gas stations in New Orleans have been out of fuel since yesterday, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The same goes for Lafayette, La., The Advertiser says.
"It's not a case of a shortage of gasoline," Don Redman of AAA tells The Advertiser, a fellow Gannett newspaper. "It's a case of a large number of people making a big, unexpected rush to service stations."
Demand is high as far west as Nacogdoches, Texas. The Daily Sentinel says there are "long lines at area fueling stations" in that community, which is about six hours from New Orleans. Doug Jordan of Morgan Oil tells the paper that they're working hard to keep the tanks full. "At this time, everything's in good shape, you never know though," he says.
As we told you Thursday, the Louisiana attorney general's office is warning gas stations and other businesses not to engage in price gouging as demand begins to exceed supply.
Update at 3:50 p.m. ET: Here's the latest situation report from Shell:
Shell-branded stations throughout the gulf coast are experiencing a spike in demand as anticipated prior to evacuation and Hurricane Gustav landfall. Despite the demand increase, supply at the station level remains strong in general. ... New Orleans, Baton Rouge and surrounding areas (Lafayette, Lake Charles) are experiencing the greatest consumer demand with approximately 10% of Shell branded stations out of fuel as of 10 a.m. this morning. We will continue to make deliveries and keep stations open as long as it is safe to do so, but safety is the number one priority and our employees and operators will need to evacuate the area.