Post-Sandy Update: Why There's No Gas

We're running out of gas for our cars here in the New York metro area:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Drivers and homeowners scrambled to secure fuel for their cars and generators in the U.S. Northeast on Wednesday as storm-hit gasoline stations started to run dry. 

More than half of all gasoline service stations in the New York City area and New Jersey were shut because of depleted fuel supplies and power outages, frustrating attempts to restore normal life, industry officials said. 

Read more HERE...

The reason we're running out is simple. If everyone goes to the pumps to fill up at the same time, there's not enough supply out there to handle the demand. This is true whether there's been a storm or not. I'm not saying that deliveries of gas to stations haven't been slowed by the storm. I'm just saying that a rush to fill up will always cause shortages.

Next time you know a storm is coming, fill up your gas tank. Better still, never let your tank go below half-filled. Develop that habit and you'll avoid some of this frustration. Of course, if you have to drive long distances to work, you're stuck having to wait on these long lines. That's just the way it is. Try not to get frustrated too much by reality, when there's nothing you can do to change the circumstances.