Residents In Florida Wait Hours For Gas Due To Hurricane Milton Causing Major Shortage

The Tampa Bay Area faces a major fuel shortage a week after Hurricane Milton hit Florida.

St. Petersburg residents sat in line for hours over the weekend as they waited for fuel.

To address the fuel shortage, Gov. DeSantis has opened several fuel distribution sites where residents are eligible to receive ten free gallons of gas.

Take a look at the lines here:

St. Pete residents wait hours for fuel as gas shortages continue across Tampa Bay https://t.co/kExRG7uoXS pic.twitter.com/gDBDbR7AH0

— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) October 14, 2024

Per WFLA:

Hurricane Milton majorly impacted the Tampa Bay area, causing widespread power outages, plenty of storm debris, and contaminated water.

Along with the laundry list of issues, the area can add fuel shortages to the list.

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Over the weekend, residents have been sitting for hours in lines, waiting to gas up their cars so they can get back to normalcy. But with the high demand, getting gas has been a struggle.

On Saturday, the city of St. Petersburg opened a fuel distribution site after Gov. Ron DeSantis gave the green light to the city, along with some in Manatee and Hillsborough counties, to give away up to 10 gallons of free fuel at those locations.

The city shared a video of the long wait times, as officials warned residents of the lengthy amount of time they’d have to sit in their vehicles.

A tropical depression could form in the Atlantic, NHC says
Residents were able to receive up to 10 gallons of gasoline.

Long lines have formed in Florida as residents wait for gas amid shortages stemming from Hurricane Milton. pic.twitter.com/O4rTCeHBTg

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) October 13, 2024

Per CNN:

Surrounded by the damage left behind by hurricanes Helene and Milton, people across Florida are facing the daunting task of cleaning up, but many lack the electricity and fuel to do it.

Hampered by roads blocked by fallen trees and flooding, fuel suppliers and power companies are working to get the infrastructure of daily life back up and running, and police are aiding recovery efforts by providing escorts to fuel tankers trying to reach those most in need.

President Joe Biden made his second trip to the state in two weeks to survey the latest hurricane damage. Speaking in St. Petersburg on Sunday morning, the president thanked first responders and local officials for their efforts and empathized with Floridians who had lost everything, saying they are “heartbroken and exhausted, and their expenses are piling up.”