Local News

No improvement in gas shortage overnight, with 67% of stations still out of fuel

In the Triangle, drivers were still showing up in crowds to local gas stations, loading up on gas a week after the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline.

Posted Updated

By
Adam Owens, Brett Knese
and
Kasey Cunningham, WRAL reporters
RALEIGH, N.C. — On Saturday morning there were still issues at the pump, with around 67% of North Carolina gas stations out of gas – a slight increase since the day before, when around 65% of North Carolina gas stations were out of gas.

Both days were an improvement over Thursday, when 75% reported outages at one point.

The average gas price in NC is currently at $2.91 a gallon, still lower than the national average of $3.04.

WRAL Fuel Tracker has the latest updates on where gas is available.

This morning, Sheetz in Garner on Jones Sausage Road says they do have gas.

Han-Dee Hugo's on South Saunders Street in Raleigh is picking up business as people begin realizing they have gas available. They said they only have regular gas.

Murphy Express on Fayetteville Road in Garner has regular gas, and as of 8 a.m. the line wasn't very long.

Experts expect a slow, gradual improvement in the situation.

Friday was one of the most difficult days to get fuel

WRAL reporters did see several stations with no significant wait for gas throughout the day Friday.

On Friday, Paul's Grocery customers were limited to buying no more than $40 worth in hopes of as many people to fill up as possible. Owner Robert Lee said he felt things were a little less hectic than earlier in the week.

"I am hoping things are going to get ironed out with the pipeline back up," said Lee. "I haven't been told yet. It could be a day, it could be two days, I have not been told."

Around 8:30 a.m., a large gas truck pulled away from the Shell Station on Glenwood Avenue and Duraleigh Road, after delivering gas to the pumps.

With a brand new supply of gas, over 9,000 gallons, the station already had vehicles lining up – including mail service workers, who needed gas so they could deliver mail.

The station employees said it's the first time they've had gas since Monday.

As early as 4 a.m., cars were already lining up at a Circle K on Lake Boone Trail in Raleigh.

The Circle K got their supply of regular gas at around 2 a.m. For about 5 hours, cars lined up, hearing there was gas available. However, around 7:30 a.m., the gas finally ran out.

The line was steady for hours, and the overnight clerk said he had never seen it so busy during the early morning.

The Harris Teeter on Rogers Road in Wake Forest also had gas on Friday morning.

Several pumps had yellow bags over them, indicating they were out-of-service. With only a few pumps in service, wait times were slightly increased.

Derick Wallace, who has 20 years of experience in the petroleum industry, said, "It's going to take a couple of days to get it back up to full operation because of the pressure."

People in Wake Forest said finding gas there is hit-or-miss, but several people have said Rolesville has more options for finding fuel.

As of Friday afternoon, Washington, D.C. is the metro area with the largest amount of gas stations without fuel at 88%.

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