Gasoline demand is rapidly increasing in Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches, and approximately 17% of gas stations in the state are running out of fuel.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for much of the state's west coast. This is the first time a major hurricane has directly hit the Tampa area. Over a century.
Officials have warned that residents risk death from the storm if they do not follow evacuation orders. As people left the city, highways became congested and demand for gasoline left gas stations without supply.
According to gas buddyas of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 46.5 percent of gas stations in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area were out of fuel. In the South, including Fort Myers and Naples, 30% of gas stations are not dispensing gas. In Gainesville, north of Tampa, 25% of gas stations remain low on gas.
“This proves how fast and how intense the storm is,” said Patrick de Haan, an energy analyst at GasBuddy. he told CNN.
The hurricane rapidly strengthened over the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a Category 5 storm on Monday. It was briefly downgraded to a Category 4 storm early Tuesday, but officials upgraded it again to a Category 5 storm Tuesday afternoon.
Storm surge of 10 to 15 feet is expected in the Tampa and Sarasota areas. of National Hurricane Center He said the Milton was expected to make landfall Wednesday night.
President Biden warned area residents to follow evacuation orders and heed warnings as the storm pushes toward the coast.
“If you're under an evacuation order, evacuate now. Now, now, now,” he said Tuesday. “They should have evacuated by now. It's a matter of life and death.”
