Gas Shortages Reported In SC Amid Hurricane Evacuations

SOUTH CAROLINA — As thousands of residents and Labor Day weekend tourists flee the coast ahead of Hurricane Dorian, gas supplies are starting to dip in South Carolina, according to GasBuddy.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 6 percent of Charleston area gas stations and nearly 5 percent of Myrtle Beach area gas stations were without fuel, according to the online fuel tracking service. In Florida, more than half of the gas stations in the West Palm Beach area and about 30 percent of those in Miami and Fort Lauderdale were without gas.

According to AAA, gas supply in Florida remains tight and could also grow tight in Georgia and South Carolina in the coming days as deliveries are reduced due to weather.

“Some pumps could see price spikes around the Carolinas in the coming days as motorists flock to stations to top-off vehicles, potentially causing panic buying,” Tiffany Wright, AAA Carolinas spokesperson, said in a statement.

Despite the onset of hurricane-driven demand, South Carolina’s gas prices remain low in comparison to the rest of the nation. On Tuesday, when the national average for a gallon of gas was $2.57, the average in Charleston was $2.22, according to AAA.

Evacuating motorists can plan ahead for fuel stops by using online tools, such as the website and phone app Gas Buddy, which has updates on stations that still have gas supply, those that are running low or those without power. AAA also tracks gas price averages online.

SEE ALSO:

• North Carolina Ordering Mandatory Evacuations Of Barrier Islands
• NC Activates 300 National Guard Members Ahead Of Hurricane Dorian
• Hurricane Dorian: How NC Residents Can Prepare
• Charlotte Speedway Campground Opens To Hurricane Evacuees
• Tourists Evacuated From NC Barrier Islands Ahead Of Hurricane