The recent ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline, and the subsequent and unnecessary panic-buying of gasoline, has led to gas shortages across the southeastern United States.
Loren Steffy, writer at large for Texas Monthly, says the Colonial Pipeline is like an “aorta” for that part of the country when it comes to gasoline supply. The pipeline stretches from Houston all the way to New Jersey, and supplies about 45% of the fuel for cities along the Eastern Seaboard.
“That’s sort of like saying, you know, why did shutting down my aorta cause a heart attack? I mean, this is really the major pipeline that supplies the East Coast,” Steffy said.