Gas shortages are being reported at some stations in metro Atlanta. The shutdown of the Colonial pipeline is nearing a week causing panic among some drivers.
The American Automobile Association reports an 11-cent increase per gallon in prices across the metro area.
Triple-A's Montrae Waiters warns against panic-buying saying "we have enough gasoline out there." Waiters attributes the scattered outages, tomotorists hoarding gasoline, buying more than usual. She compares it to the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic "It's kinda like what we dealt with with toilet paper."
Cars were waiting when a gasoline truck arrived at Quik Trip on Boggs Road in Duluth, Georgia, last night.Sam Crenshaw/Audacy
According to Waiters there is enough gasoline supply within the U.S. "Gasoline will be brought in from pipelines in the northern U.S. and truck drivers will deliver to the southeast region."
Waiters urges drivers to plan ahead, and to save gasoline, roll down windows instead of using air conditioning and remove items that weigh down the vehicle.
The Alpharetta-based Colonial Pipeline says the gas line, that stretches across the eastern U.S. , was shutdown last week because of a ransomware attack.
The Biden Administration says it is doing everything possible to ease the situation. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the pipeline "should be substantially functional by week's end", adding that in the meantime, price gouging will not be tolerated.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has suspended the gas tax through Saturday, which he says will help with the price of gasoline. Governor Kemp is also urging people not to overreact to the shutdown saying "get what you need" and let others do the same.
