Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack: No Need To Hoard Gas, Ivey Says

BIRMINGHAM, AL — After the cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline was announced by the company Monday, fear of a gas shortage swept over many Alabamians, prompting Gov. Kay Ivey to urge people not to hoard gas.

"Please do not fill up your car unless you need to and do not fill multiple containers," Ivey said in a statement. "Overreacting creates more of a shortage. Please use common sense and patience."

Related Story: Cyberattack On Colonial Pipeline: Alabama Among States Affected

Reports of long lines at gas stations Monday and Tuesday, and of people filling gas cans to hoard gas in case of a shortage has forced gas stations statewide to adopt new guidelines.

Many gas stations in the Birmingham area have imposed a 15 gallon limit on gasoline, in hopes of preventing a shortage.

Jefferson County resident Chris Taylor said he drives more than 100 miles a day for his job, and that a 15 gallon limit could affect his ability to work.

"This is crazy," Taylor said while getting gas at a Chevron station in east Birmingham. "I actually need to fill up. These folks filling gas cans and filling up their cars when they don't need to is punishing me and my clients. For what? Being scared?"

Wendy Collins of Birmingham said she immediately filled up her car Monday, and came back to the gas station Wednesday to top off her tank. "I know they say there isn't going to be a shortage, but I look at it like hand sanitizer and toilet paper in the summer. If everyone else is out buying it all up, I need to do it too."

Collins added, "And you know, I'm not so sure I believe there won't be (a gas shortage). I'm not taking the chance."

Colonial Pipeline Co. said it learned it was the victim of a cybersecurity attack and has since determined that the incident involved ransomware. The attack could cause shortages and impact fuel prices in the region.

"The challenges brought on by the Colonial Pipeline shut down would likely not appear for several days or longer," said Patrick De Haan a fiel analyst with GasBuddy. "My guess is they'll be able to restart the pipeline before any major issues develop. This should NOT be a pricing event- but this may be a supply event."

De Haan added, "If it lasts more than five days or so, there would be challenges in some SE states only, but they may not all be even across the affected states."

Bart Fletcher, the President of Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama, said "panic-buying" is not necessary.

"At this point, there is no problem as far as refineries being able to produce gasoline and diesel fuel," Fletcher said in a statement Wednesday. "That hasn’t been impacted at all. The only problem is the distribution of refined gasoline. Please don’t panic. Continue your normal buying habits."