Drivers in several southern states have reported finding no fuel at gas stations as a vital pipeline remains shut down due to a cyber attack by a hacker group.
A Friday ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline by the hacker group DarkSide has put fuel in short supply in several states, prompting North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to declare a state of emergency to ensure that drivers have access to fuel.
As of Tuesday morning, a large number of gas stations in the south are reportedly out of fuel.
Patrick De Haan, who is Head of Petroleum Analysis with GasBuddy, has reported that as of Tuesday morning, 7.6% of gas stations in Virginia are out of gas, and that 4.8% of gas stations in North Carolina have run dry. Shortages have also been reported in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.
Latest statewide numbers for gas stations without gasoline as of 6am CT according to GasBuddy data.
GA 3.3%
AL 0.4%
TN 0.02%
SC 1.5%
NC 4.8%
FL 2.4%
VA 7.6%
Note: these numbers may be low as our data stream is only hours old and more updates flow in. https://t.co/A5TguUjDzT— Patrick De Haan ⛽️📊 (@GasBuddyGuy) May 11, 2021
Several social media users provided an on-the-ground look at gas shortages.
This gas station in Robbinsville is all out of gas. Clerk said manager told her it could be five days before they have gas again. Says phone has been ringing off the hook of people calling around to find gas @WLOS_13 pic.twitter.com/SCcwmb1Pc0
— Caitlyn Penter (@CaitlynWLOS) May 10, 2021
Gas is the new toilet paper. pic.twitter.com/qAi4x7vLXi
— Andy Grewal (@AndyGrewal) May 11, 2021
This is crazy. I stopped for gas just now having no idea what was happening. It’s out. People here told me they’d been to other stations and found the same. pic.twitter.com/7LDVdUXPo4
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) May 11, 2021
A spike in gas prices has also been reported in many areas.
National average reaches $2.97 per gallon, matching the highest since 2018
— Patrick De Haan ⛽️📊 (@GasBuddyGuy) May 11, 2021
Officials are warning drivers to avoid panic-buying fuel as this will exacerbate shortages.
No need to wonder why there’s a #gasshortage on the east coast. Ole buddy had eight containers lined up at the Murphy across from Tanger 17 in Myrtle Beach. pic.twitter.com/RYBFLlQRyn
— TJ Lundeen (@lundeentj) May 10, 2021
The Colonial Pipeline supplies about 45% of the fuel (including gasoline, diesel and jet fuel) consumed by the east coast. Pipeline officials said on Monday that they plan to “substantially” restore services by the end of the week. Colonial Pipeline officials are working with the federal government to respond to the hack.
In response to the possibility of fuel shortages, on Sunday the FMCSA issued a 17 state Hours of Service waiver for truck drivers hauling fuel to try to minimize supply disruptions.