Demand for fuel in Florida has surged as evacuees flee Hurricane Milton’s expected path, while others are filling their gas tanks to power generators in case of power outages.
As of Tuesday morning, 14.5% of gas stations statewide were out of fuel, a significant increase from 3% on Monday, according to the gas price-tracking service GasBuddy. The situation was particularly dire in areas with mandatory evacuation orders, such as Fort Myers, where 70% of stations had run out of gas by Monday night.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to quell panic buying, which can worsen shortages, stating that 1.2 million gallons of gas and diesel were on their way to different parts of the state on Tuesday, with additional reserves available.
However, experts warn that Florida could face ongoing challenges in obtaining fuel if Hurricane Milton damages the Port of Tampa. “The Port of Tampa is critical to supply for much of the state,” said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for OPIS, which monitors gasoline prices for AAA. “I’d be hard-pressed to find a market more dependent on waterborne supply and more vulnerable to hurricanes and storm surges.”
The governor mentioned that state officials are exploring alternative ways to bring fuel into Florida. “We are assuming—though it doesn’t guarantee it will happen—that there will be significant damage to the Port of Tampa,” DeSantis said. “So we are preparing for a considerable interruption in their ability to receive fuel.”
