Drivers talk about why they're waiting for gas

YORK, S.C. -- Many people are driving from Charlotte to South Carolina looking for gas, but they’re disappointed in what they’re finding. The situation there is the same as it is north of the border. According to AAA, the northern portion of South Carolina gets fuel from the same terminal as the Charlotte region.

Coastal cities in South Carolina are not being impacted by the gas shortages because fuel arrives via barges at the ports. Inland distributors are trying to take advantage of that fact. The South Carolina petroleum marketers association says its distributors are being sent to port cities to fill up their tankers and drive fuel back to the areas in need.

NewsChannel 36 checked with the York County school district to see how they’re dealing with the shortage. Everything is on track right now; South Carolina schools get their gas from the state and we’re told all South Carolina schools have about five more days of fuel on hand.

Early Friday morning, Mike Stolarik’s sky blue Buick sat next to a gas pump at the Citgo on Lawyers Road in Mint Hill.

"I’ve been here all night. Two hours ago I was over there, and now I’m here," he said.

The signs on the front door, windows and all the pumps read, "NO FUEL."

But that didn’t stop drivers from lining up, including Stolarik.

"I only got up here because all the other cars have left," he said. And he said he plans to wait it out.

More than 50 cars spent the night waiting for gas at the station mainly based on the hope that a shipment would arrive sometime.

"It’s sad," said Dennis Rice, his SUV also by a pump. "I would move but I’m on fumes so I’ve got no choice."

Many drivers said they heard gas would arrive by 1 a.m., then possibly 7 a.m. Now they, as well as the clerk, said they just don’t know.

The Charlotte-area gas shortage is expected come to a temporary end soon, with "a major shipment" of gas from the Gulf expected Friday afternoon.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory made that announcement Thursday afternoon and it couldn’t come soon enough.

“It cut off up there,” Wes Ponds said, pointing to his truck, “and I just rolled in. Praise God.”

Desperate for gas was an understatement for Ponds, and to make his story just a little more amazing, he was one of the last to get it at the Clanton Road Xpress Mart.

Faye Lynn thought the pump had run out on her. “Oh thank god,” she said as she got unleaded gas flowing. “Whatever it is, I'll take it. This is awful.”

“Now is not the time to panic and think that gas is running out,” McCrory said at his press conference, alongside Mecklenburg County Board Chairperson Jennifer Roberts.

Raw video of news conference

McCrory said he spoke directly with a deputy director of the Department of Energy who assured him that the Colonial Pipeline would bring a major shipment from the Gulf. Additionally, the pipeline will be supplied from the north from Baltimore. Trucks will also carry a surplus from Wilmington, where the shortages are not serious.

Asheville and Spartanburg got their shipment Thursday. Gas lines had persisted there for even longer than in the Charlotte area.

Drivers line up for gas

Those shipments will not end the shortage and for that reason both McCrory and Roberts asked for conservation. They suggested carpooling, telecommuting, and canceling trips. CATS bus and Lynx service has been up substantially this week.

First-time bus riders like Rynne Ambrose were part of the solution, no matter what their motives. “I went to about 15 different pumps off 77,” Ambrose said. That’s why she decided to try CATS.

McCrory and Roberts also urged commuters not to use the gas unless they truly need it. Some were filling gas cans and topping off at the Clanton Road station NewsChannel 36 visited.

“If you’ve got a half a tank, there is no reason to wait in a long line,” Roberts said.

“And use a half a tank to do it,” McCrory added with a laugh.

They assure there will be a steady supply of fuel, but it may take some time.

Why the shortage?

Related blog: Is the media responsible for the gas panic?

It’s been about two weeks since Hurricane Ike struck the Gulf Coast and many gas stations are still running on empty. Part of the reason is because gas terminals where fuel trucks get their supply are running low.

"They're saying Colonial Pipeline is supposed to be back up and running full force tomorrow, but that's just hearsay. You know, you can't count on that. That's what they've been saying for two weeks,” said Mark Martin, a trucker.

About 85 percent of our fuel supply in Charlotte comes from the Gulf Coast. It travels through the Colonial and Plantation pipelines, but the pipelines aren’t the problem.

"The refineries are not up to speed yet. We have 22 of them that are pumping partially and then we have three that may be up and running full board this weekend. And we have 10 that are still out including the biggest one,” said Tom Crosby with AAA of the Carolinas.

But the problem doesn’t end with the refineries.

"Some people are more greedy than others and therefore creating the problem for the rest of us," said Crosby.

As for why some stations have gas and others don’t, Crosby said this, “They're doling it out a little at a time, trying to spread it out and consequently some people run out quicker than others."

(NewsChannel 36 reporters Beth Shayne and Richard DeVayne contributed to this story.)