The pipeline transports gas across the U.S. East Coast but only supplies 3% of Florida s overall fuel stock. Most local fuel is imported and shipped to the region via ports.
But that hasn’t stopped Southwest Florida residents from rushing out to top off their tanks, leading to local shortages throughout the week driven purely by panic. Gas prices on Thursday hovered at an average of $2.87 in Sarasota and $2.85 in Manatee County, according to AAA.
Roxanne Myer, manager of the Sonoco gas station on Manatee Avenue and 47th Street in Bradenton, said that the store ran out of fuel around noon on Wednesday but restocked by 8 p.m. The station is expecting another delivery Friday.