Gov. McCrory activates State Emergency Response Team as pumps run dry
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Drivers throughout North Carolina are facing long lines and higher prices at the gas pumps due to the leak in the Colonial Pipeline. Some stations are having to turn away customers because their pumps are out of fuel.
On Monday, Gov. Pat McCrory activated the State Emergency Response Team to coordinate with counties regarding fuel needs. In a statement, McCrory asked N.C. agencies to consider ways to conserve gas.
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"I continue to warn motorists to be on the lookout for price gouging," McCrory said Monday evening. "We are taking steps to protect consumers and ensure that fuel is continuing to flow into the state. To help ensure adequate fuel supplies, I have instructed state agencies to consider options to limit fuel use, including curtailing non-essential travel for state employees."
Our crews around the Triangle and in Fayetteville have seen stations without gas. Other places had massive lines or were only selling certain types of gas.
Other places have started rationing gas. Our ABC11 crew saw signs in Five Points in Raleigh saying customers must pay inside and they are limited to $15 dollars of gas.
The pipeline which runs from Houston to New York had a 250,000-gallon leak last week in Alabama. The shutdown for repairs is causing delays in the arrival of fuel trucks.
ABC11 viewers have said stations have shortages or long lines wrapped around buildings in places like Knightdale, Wakefield, and Lee County.
READ MORE: Over 400 complaints of price gouging at the pump reported
Our crew in Fayetteville said they saw stations with no gas Monday afternoon. One was a Kangaroo on Bragg Boulevard -- they had signs up alerting customers.
Gas prices in the Triangle have risen an average of nearly 10 cents since Friday, although some stations are much higher.
One station in Apex had prices over $3 a gallon.
On Monday, the Town of Zebulon said it has "an adequate supply of gasoline to continue providing services" to residents. Town leaders cautioned that because of conservation methods, however, some services, including yardwaste collection may be affected.
Zebulon Town Manager Joe Moore also urged residents to have patience when trying to obtain gas.
EMS workers in Wake County are being asked to conserve what they can. All of the county's 45 ambulances run on diesel, but some paramedics drive gas powered vehicles.
Restrictions are now in place to make sure employees aren't making unnecessary trips.
The City of Raleigh is taking similar precautions. The Raleigh Fire Department is working with a fuel supplier to make sure tanks are topped off.
In Durham, the BP on Ninth Street at Main Street had gas Monday night, but lines were long to fuel up.
McCrory issued a statement Sunday night saying they are working with fuel suppliers to "monitor and quickly replenish" supplies.
"Based on our ongoing updates from Colonial, the construction of a bypass pipeline is moving forward which will soon allow fuel supply operations to return to normal," said Governor McCrory. "In the meantime, my executive orders remain in effect to protect motorists from excessive gas prices and minimize any interruptions in the supply of fuel."
Colonial say they expect the bypass of the leak to be in place by mid to late week, according to the governor.
Colonial Pipeline said in a press release Monday that they are gathering resources from Gulf Coast refiners in order to ship supplies. Deliveries are expected in Greensboro and Charlotte.
READ MORE: Drivers frustrated as gas leak affects the pumps
Exxon Mobile released a statement saying they are working to secure alternative supply, if necessary. Sheetz said they are also looking into alternatives.
