PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Reacting to reports of people in that area filling 20-gallon and 50-gallon containers with gasoline in anticipation of Hurricane Wilma, officials last week asked Florida's two major petroleum organizations to talk to their members about possibly limiting gasoline sales to evacuation vehicles, reported the Palm Beach Post.
Cragin Mosteller, spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the state had received no indication from the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association or the Florida [image-nocss] Petroleum Council that stations will be imposing any sales restrictions. Obviously this is a business decision; we respect that, she told the newspaper.
Jim Smith, president and CEO of the Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, said there was a good reason station operators do not often impose restrictions. If they put a limit on it, they get their life threatened. People have threatened to beat them, Smith told the paper.
Limiting sales may stretch a station's supplies, but does nothing to lessen overall demand, he said, as the customer will just go to another station. Smith said stations around the state were reporting relatively normal sales of gasoline, with the exception of Southwest Florida. They're rolling in with their pickup trucks with as many as 20 five-gallon containers in the back. It is going to push pressure on other parts of the state if it continues, he said.
A spot check of local gas stations by the Post on Thursday showed little evidence of unusual buying activity, it said.
Eric Hamilton, associate director of the Florida Petroleum Council, told the paper that he has heard reports that people are topping off tanks in the southwest, but that supplies statewide are good.
On Thursday, Florida's ports had an inventory of 197.6 million gallons of gasoline and 45.7 million gallons of diesel fuel. Motorists use an average of 23 million gallons of fuel per day, according to the DEP.
Mosteller said the state understands that residents might need extra fuel for generators, but said they need to be prudent. We want people to prepare for the storm. We understand they may have a generator; we know they want fuel, she said. There should be adequate fuel to evacuate if people act responsibly and leave fuel for their neighbors.
Exxon Mobil Corp. said on Friday that it was committing additional resources to assist with the growing demand for gasoline in Florida as a result of Hurricane Wilma's approach.
In addition to its fleet of 28 tanker trucks that supply Central and South Florida markets, eight tanker trucks were being placed into service. Four of the eight tanker trucks were from out of state. Furthermore, additional ExxonMobil drivers were flown in from Chicago, California and Texas to assist in gasoline deliveries.
"We understand the importance of Florida residents having access to gasoline during this difficult time," said Mark Shores, U.S. retail sales director, ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing, Fairfax, Va. "We ask our customers to understand that at times, due to very high demand, some stations may be out of fuel for short periods, but we are working very hard to keep stations supplied with gasoline.
The company added that it is coordinating with the state of Florida to identify critical areas along evacuation routes that will likely face increased demands. ExxonMobil stations and its delivery fleet will remain open and in service for as long as it safe to conduct business, it said.
According to Weather.comat press time on Friday, Wilma was expected over the weekend to come under the influence of stronger westerly winds aloft blowing across the Gulf, shifting the hurricane from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Cozumel toward southern Florida by Monday. The interaction with land as the hurricane brushes past the Yucatan Peninsula plus the increasing influence of westerly shear and even some mid-level dry air intrusion could weaken Wilma considerably before it directly affects Florida.
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