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Date September 12, 2016; 5 months ago (September 12, 2016) - Ongoing Also known as 2016 Southeast Gas Shortage | ||
The 2016 Southeastern United States gasoline shortage is an phenomenon caused by the 2016 Colonial Pipeline Leak and the resulting panic buying in which many gas stations across six states have entirely run out of petrol, or gasoline fuel, causing price hikes, halts of services, and several declarations of states of emergency.
Contents
On Monday, September 12, 2016, a leak occurred in Shelby County, Alabama, spilling an estimated 350,000 US gallons of summer-grade gasoline, requiring a partial shutdown of the pipeline, and causing petrol gas shortages in much of the Southeastern United States. Six states are affected (Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia), with Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia declaring states of emergency. These declarations have eliminated certain size and weight restrictions on vehicles carrying gasoline, and the hours which they are allowed to deliver.
Many gas stations in the affected regions have entirely run out of gas. Panic buying greatly contributed to this.
History
The Colonial Pipeline leak in Shelby County, Alabama was first detected on September 9. By September 17, the affected regions began experiencing gas shortages due to the leak and panic buying. Colonial has announced the construction of a bypass pipeline.
On September 21, Colonial Pipeline Company announced the completion of an emergency bypass pipeline. Whilst flow is now at optimal rates, Colonial claims it will be "several days" before processed fuel reaches and replenishes affected areas.
Government response
On September 13, Georgia governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency. On September 15, Alabama governor Robert J. Bentley declared a state of emergency. The pipeline was shut down on September 16, and federal regulators began investigating the cause of the leak. North Carolina governor Pat McCrory, Tennessee governor Bill Haslam and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley all declared states of emergency, allowing fuel tankers to work longer hours to maintain the availability of gasoline.
On September 21, the states of North Carolina and Virginia declared their states of emergency over upon the news of the Colonial Pipeline's completion of the bypass.