Those seeking gas in the New York-New Jersey area have had a hard time getting enough fuel for their vehicles and generators after Hurricane Sandy cut power to gas stations and stalled gas deliveries. Both New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have had to find ways to alleviate that gas shortage.
In New York, Cuomo announced that 28 million gallons of gasoline are en route to New York's terminals, the LA Times reported. Throughout the greater New York City area and Long Island, motorists and those without power have searched for and waited on long lines in hopes of getting some gas.
In New Jersey, Christie was forced to announce gas rationing, dividing cars into odd and even numbers based on their license plates. According to the LA Times, the rationing forces cars that end in even numbers to fill up on one day and cars ending in odd numbers fill up the next day.
"This system will ease the strain on those gas stations still operating," Christie said in a statement. "While we work to bring more online for the public to access fuel, in a manner that is fair, easy to understand, and less stressful."
Christie also announced that the state had launched a hotline for gas station owners and operators tor report service deliver problems by phone or email.
According to the Associated Press, the fuel crisis is expected to end in the next couple of days as more areas begin to get electricity back. Once electricity is back up and running, fuel will be able to be "pumped from refineries, through pipelines, off tanker ships, out of terminals and to gas stations," the AP reported.
On Friday, President Barack Obama also sought to ease the gas crisis by directing the Department of Energy to distribute 2 million gallons of oil reserves to the two states, the LA Times reported. The president also temporarily waived the Jones Act, which allowed foreign oil tankers to deliver petroleum to the ports in New England and Atlantic.
The LA Times reported that fuel trucks from the Department of Defence, with up to 5,000 gallons each, were set out around New York to ease the demand on gas stations on Saturday. However, vehicles were given a 10-gallon limit on the free gasoline.
On Saturday morning, President Obama spoke about the recovery efforts in the tri-state area while visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters.
"There's nothing more important than us getting this right," he said. "And we're going to spend as much time, effort and energy as necessary to make sure that all the people in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut know that the entire country is behind them in this difficult recovery effort. We are going to put not just 100%, but 120% behind making sure that they get the resources they need to rebuild and recover."
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
