TAMPA, Fla. (AP) 鈥� Long lines and empty pumps at some Florida gas stations Tuesday compounded the stress for residents planning to either hunker down or flee as approached the state's western coast.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a morning news conference that state officials were working with fuel companies to continue bringing in gasoline ahead of Milton's expected landfall on Wednesday.
鈥淲e have been dispatching fuel over the past 24 hours as gas stations have run out,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淪o we currently have 268,000 gallons of diesel, 110,000 gallons of gasoline. Those numbers are less than what they were 24 hours ago because we鈥檝e put a lot in, but we have an additional 1.2 million gallons of both diesel and gasoline that is currently en route to the state of Florida.鈥�
DeSantis said there wasn't a fuel shortage. But the hunt for gasoline was another nerve-fraying task for people preparing for a major hurricane.
鈥淵ou've got to have patience,鈥� Stephanie Grover-Brock, a Tampa resident in line for gasoline in the Riverview area, said Tuesday morning. 鈥淚t's a little aggravating. You've got to be patient, be determined and just have grace.鈥�
Nearby, motorist Ralph Douglas said some gas stations in Ruskin, where he lives, ran out of gas, but he was able to find fuel elsewhere.
Also in line was Martin Oakes of Apollo Beach.
鈥淚 was able to get some gas yesterday, but then they ran out,鈥� Oakes said, waiting in a slow-moving line. 鈥淪o now I'm trying to get gas here again and, you know, long lines, trickling gas pumps.鈥�
Oakes and Grover-Brock said they were not in evacuation zones and did not plan to leave.
Ned Bowman, spokesperson for the Florida Petroleum Marketers Association, said the situation was typical for a Florida hurricane 鈥� with demand peaking and some stations temporarily running dry. He said suppliers are 鈥渃onstantly鈥� moving fuel to stations.
鈥淗ave patience,鈥� Bowman said. 鈥淚t's out there.鈥�
AAA told The Associated Press it would advise Floridians to 鈥渢ake only what you need鈥� and if evacuating, to avoid letting one's gas tank get too low before looking for a place to fill up.
DeSantis said during his news conference there is enough gasoline for those who are evacuating.
鈥淵ou do not have to get on the interstate and go far away,鈥� DeSantis said. 鈥淵ou can evacuate tens of miles, you do not have to evacuate hundreds of miles away. You do have options.鈥�
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McGill reported from New Orleans.
Haven Daley And Kevin Mcgill, The Associated Press
