Where To Find Gas In NC: Hurricane Florence Evacuation

As tens of thousands of residents and tourists begin to flee the Carolina coast in preparation of Hurricane Florence, a new concern has started popping up along evacuation routes: gas shortages and brief price spikes.

In Morehead City, N.C., several gas stations were low on fuel Tuesday morning, with only some planning to refill their supply before the storm, according to WITN. The situation was much the same in Wilmington, which is sitting in the bullseye of the project storm path. There, gas stations are experiencing long lines as officials urge residents to fill their tanks ahead evacuation, WECT said.

Evacuating motorists can plan ahead for fuel stops by using online tools, such as the website and phone app Gas Buddy, which has updates on stations that still have gas supply, those that are running low or those without power.

You can click here, though, to take you directly to the information about which stations in our area and throughout North Carolina still have gas. If you want to use gasbuddy on the road, click here to get a link sent to your cell phone to download the gasbuddy.com app. When you drive while monitoring the app, a map of the surrounding areas will provide the latest available information on where to find fuel nearby.

In addition to supply concerns, motorists could see a short term price spike along the east coast, AAA warned Monday.

“A storm like this typically causes an increase in fuel purchases in the market and a slowdown in retail demand. Motorists can expect spikes in pump prices to be brief, but possibly dramatic,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson.

According to the auto club, the national gas price in the U.S. is $2.84, and the average in North Carolina is $2.67.

RELATED:

• Hurricane Florence: NC Could See 'Staggering' Amounts Of Rain
• Hurricane Florence: How North Carolina Can Prepare
• NC Residents Advised To Review Homeowners Insurance Now

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Photo via Melinda Fawver/ Shutterstock