Katrina's impact
After posting yesterday about my bike miles seeming low compared to car miles it looks like I'm going to be offered a chance to do more miles. The local news is reporting that we get about 50% of our gasoline from the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of Hurricane Katrina the main pipeline between Mississipi and NC is down. Also the refineries down on the Gulf Coast are closed, and it's not clear for how long. Gas prices jumped 25 to 30 cents a gallon over the course of the day yesterday and some gas stations ran dry as desperate motorsits filled up. The state is urging people to limit driving to only essential activities.I don't want to ride too much ahead of the MS150, but maybe two days next week is called for. After the 150 I'll try to ride in three or more times a week.
The issues here are small in comparison to the ones on the coast though. Having seen the pictures on the news it looks like New Orleans as it was has gone. My heart goes out to all those down there. If it were me and I had a choice I wouldn't be going back.
posted by Paul @ 8:02 AM
1 Comments:
Here's Mike Easley's comments - it's all going to break out soon:
STATEMENT GIVEN TODAY BY GOV. EASLEY CONCERNING GASOLINE SUPPLY IN NORTH CAROLINA
Raleigh - THE TWO MAJOR PIPELINES THAT FURNISH GASOLINE TO MANY STATES, INCLUDING NORTH CAROLINA, HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA AND ARE CURRENTLY WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. THEY SERVICE NORTH CAROLINA AND 8-10 OTHER STATES.
90 PERCENT OF OUR GAS COMES FROM THESE PIPELINES AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE NOT OPERATIONAL.
SUPPLIERS GENERALLY HAVE A WEEK OR SO OF SUPPLY. THEY HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN SINCE THE HURRICANE.
THE PIPELINES NEED ELECTRIC SUPPLY AND THE REFINERIES THAT PRODUCE GASOLINE NEED TO MAKE URGENT REPAIRS ALSO ARE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. THE REFINERIES THAT PRODUCE GASOLINE NEED TO MAKE URGENT REPAIRS.
CONSEQUENTLY, WE DO NOT KNOW THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFCANT LOSS OF GASOLINE IN THE SOUTHEAST, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM UNTIL THE ELECTRICITY IS RESTORED.
THIS IS NOT ONLY A STATE PROBLEM, THIS IS ALSO A REGIONAL AND A NATIONAL PROBLEM. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WILL TAKE SOME ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET DIRECTION FROM DOE BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED.
IN THE MEANTIME, I AM ASKING ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS TO CONSERVE GAS. SOME STATIONS ARE ALREADY OUT. WAIT FOR MORE INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING LABOR DAY TRAVEL PLANS.
WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT EMERGENCY VEHICLES HAVE THE SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED, POLICE, FIRE AND RESCUE.
I AM IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDING ALL NON-ESSENTIAL STATE GOVERNMENT TRAVEL. I AM ASKING STATE EMPLOYEES TO CARPOOL WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
I AM ALSO ASKING ALL OUR CITIZENS TO BE SMART ABOUT THEIR FUEL CONSUMPTION.
I AM ASKING THEM TO CARPOOL IF THEY CAN AND TO LIMIT NON-ESSENTIAL ROAD TRIPS.
WE ARE NOT OUT OF GAS, BUT WE ARE RUNNING LOW.
WE MUST TAKE STEPS TO CONSERVE OUR RESOURCES WHILE WE LEARN THE FULL EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS AND WHILE WASHINGTON WORKS TOWARD A REGIONAL AND NATIONAL STRATEGY.
WITH CAREFUL USE OF PRECIOUS FUEL, CONSUMERS CAN HELP US WEATHER THIS LATEST STORM.
NORTH CAROLINA UNDERSTANDS HURRICANES. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THEM AND WE KNOW THAT WE WILL WEATHER THIS ONE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST. WE KNOW THEY CAUSE DISTRUPTION. WE JUST NEED TO KNOW AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND PLAN.
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