HOUSTON -- A free fuel plan for hurricane evacuees that was unveiled to the public by a state official this week was incorrect and not approved by top emergency leaders, officials said, reported the Associated Press.
The plan was outlined Tuesday for about 500 peoplemostly Harris County residentsat the Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop. But state officials said a day later that they were unfamiliar with the free fuel system described during the public presentation by Jenniffier Hawes, a regional liaison officer with the Texas Department of Public [image-nocss] Safety.
The information she presented was incorrect, said Rachael Novier, a spokesperson for Governor Rick Perry. The situation is being dealt with within the division of emergency management.
Hawes said Tuesday that under the free fuel plan, which was also explained on a large projection screen behind her, only vehicles with little fuel remaining would get access to the free pumps. She said drivers looking to top off would be sent to pay at other stations. The free gasoline would be exclusively available at Valero, Shell, Exxon Mobil and Marathon stations, she said, at 50-mile intervals on evacuation routes.
After the presentation was over, Hawes told AP, We don't want a lack of financial resources to leave someone stranded.
Hawes declined comment Wednesday, referring questions to state emergency management officials.
The revelation surprised and scared many state agencies and industry officials who would be directly involved in such a situation. If motorists showed up to stations expecting free gasoline during an evacuation, we could end up with riots in our driveways, Scott Fisher, spokesperson for the Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, told AP.
Fuel availability was one of five key areas that a hurricane task force, appointed by Perry, identified as needing immediate improvement before the next hurricane season.
On the heels of the erroneous plan going public, Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Mike Cox said if stalled drivers are spotted by courtesy patrol trucks, they'll be given enough gasoline to get to the nearest station. But there will be no free fillups, he said.
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