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Subscribe to RSSLines are long and open gas stations are few and far between in New York and New Jersey, as drivers wait to fill up their tanks. NBC's Katy Tur reports.
Justin Lane / EPA
National Guard troops dispense gasoline in Queens on Saturday.
The gasoline shortage in the New York City area should be over in "a couple more days," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Saturday, urging New Yorkers to be patient even as officials promised free gas only to then add this caveat: first responders first, then the public can line up.
Electrical power and deliveries are coming back online, Bloomberg said at a press conference, but even so "it may take a few more days before you see this additional supply."
Earlier Saturday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that "fuel is on the way" with the Department of Defense deploying five mobile fuel stations to New York City and Long Island, albeit with a 10 gallon limit.
"The good news," Cuomo said of the promised 12 million gallons, "is it's going to be free."
At least 1,000 drivers queued up at one site -- the Freeport Armory in Long Island -- only to be told the gasoline would not arrive for at least eight hours more, one driver said.
"There's just so many people getting very frustrated. People don't know what to do,'' said Lauren Popkoff, a teacher who had been in line for four hours.
The mobile station that opened in Queens was also swamped, NBCNewYork.com reported, with a line of cars stretching 20 blocks.
But the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs later issued an advisory asking the public to stay away from the mobile stations until more fuel is released.
National Guard Col. Richard Goldenberg said Saturday afternoon that people who were already at the distribution sites would not be turned away.
Cuomo added that the reopening of New York Harbor has provided 8 million gallons of fuel and another 28 million will be delivered over the next two days.
Tempers flared as people camped out all night, waiting for their turn at the pump in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. NBC's Tom Costello reports.
A third of the stations in New York City were closed Saturday due to power outages or lack of fuel -- a significant improvement from Friday when two thirds were closed.
When word of free gas spread Saturday, people rushed to the mobile stations.
"I left my coffee on the table and ran out," said Tatiana Gomez of Staten Island, who heard about it on the news while having breakfast.
Her's was the sixth car in line but she still had to wait 2 1/2 hours for the delivery to arrive.
National Guardsmen walked through the crowd, handing out water to those waiting.
"I think since 9/11 we've pulled together as people," Robert Costantino said while in line. "Now, when there's a crisis, we pull together."
Long lines also continued at regular gas stations.
"It's pandemonium out here," said Chris Damon, who was waiting among hundreds, many honking their horns, at a Brooklyn station. "I feel like a victim of Hurricane Katrina. I never thought it could happen here in New York, but it's happened."
Desperate drivers continued to flood north to Connecticut in hopes of finding fuel. Gas lines snaked down surburban side streets as state troopers and local police maintained order and directed the traffic choking U.S. Route 1 , the main artery that runs parallel to Interstate 95 along the coast from New York city to Boston. The backups were mostly confined to stations in Greenwich and Stamford, the first locations across the state line. Gas stations further up the line were operating with little or not waiting.
The availability of fuel north of the city resulted largely because Connecticut dodged two major factors that crimped the flow of gasoline in New York and New Jersey. Many stations in New York City and New Jersey were without power and unable to pump gas.
The closure of New York Harbor – to clear dangerous debris and check navigation buoys – delayed some tanker shipments. Most coastal Connecticut stations, by contrast, had power restored by Saturday and tanker deliveries to coastal Long Island sound gasoline terminals in Bridgeport and New Haven were largely uninterrupted.
Tom Kloza, chief analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, told The Associated Press that drivers seem to fear that stations will be out of gas for a week or more.
"There are some people who need it, but there are a lot of people who are panicking," Kloza said. "There's plenty of fuel. This will be over in days."
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Superstorm Sandy made landfall Monday evening on a destructive and deadly path across the Northeast.
In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie on Friday ordered gas rationing in 12 counties to begin on Saturday under an "odd-even" system in which motorists with license plates ending in odd numbers would be able to buy gas on odd-numbered days.
Christie said Saturday that he hoped the restrictions would only last "a few days."
This article includes reporting by NBC News' John Schoen, Reuters and The Associated Press.
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- Your Sandy photos: Show us the heroes in your life
- Sandy's aftermath: How you can help
- Full NBC News coverage of Sandy aftermath
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Leave a Comment:
"Free" my ass. Someone is paying for this fuel.
People who think things like this are really "free" should be tar and feathered and run out of town on a rail.
All of the services that we Americans offer each other are provided through the taxes we pay to keep this country running "for the people".
More power to our president for getting help where it needs to be. And if we think that long lines at the gas station are terrible just after a major disaster, think of what it would look like without our federal infrastructure.
BTW, anyone who still has a working automobile back there to put gas into should be thankful!
This is crap! Gas is a privilege NOT A RIGHT! Water, food, shelter to live, but NOT GAS to drive around!
working people pay for all the free stuff, we pay taxes for all the liberals who have made welfare a carreer, its not obama's money or his rich movie star friends or rock star friends personal money
Sammy, you know damn well who is paying. You can bet there will be some inline who will try to get more than their share. I hope the others beat the piss out of them.
I wonder how much of that gas the people will use getting to and from getting the locations for that "free" gas.
Perhaps this is elitist of me, but I say that people who drive up in huge gas-guzzling SUV's should be ineligible to receive that gas.
I guess things are not to bad if they still whine union or non union and wont accept honest help screw these people if this is how they act. Its a large problem with what is wrong in america.
The hurricane-ravaged east coast has been receiving north Alabama help, but crews learned they’ll be doing work in Long Island, New York instead of in New Jersey.
Crews from Decatur Utilities and Joe Wheeler out of Trinity headed up there this week, but Derrick Moore, one of the Decatur workers, said they were told by crews in New Jersey that they can’t do any work there since they’re not union employees.
The crews that are in Roanoke, Virginia say they are just watching and waiting even though they originally received a call asking for help from Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
What is wrong with Americans helping Americans?
The next thing you are gonna hear are people complaining about "free" rescue operations.
Romney has stated under his watch federal assistance will end.
Oh, they already complain about free rescue. Check out any article about a hiker being rescued, and this crew is there, indignant about their tax dollars being spent on saving lives.
Americans helping Americans is not a problem - government stepping in and allocating resources of all to help a few IS a problem. In the instance of other natural disasters neighbors have come together to help each other, aid from residents in neighboring states has been sent. In this case the government is giving away some $50 million dollars of gasoline - if the fuel was being allocated to hospitals, to emergency responders, to city and state governments involved in rebuilding or helping provide shelter and food, and help to those hit by the storm I would not have a problem. Instead of a one time pass out of free gas, they should be trying to get the power back on, clearing the streets so that fuel trucks can get to the stations. Passing out free gas is just a political stunt.
Duckie, I agree. The gov't job is to keep the infrastruture in working condition. If they could get the power on there would be no need for free gas. BTW is saw firemen at a station filling up. This fuel would help the relief effort, people should be off the roads until all relief is accomplished.
When the money runs out what will the 'Takers' do?
Those people are suffering. I talked to 2 of my friends on Long Island.One whose house was flooded and he had no electric,but fortunate to have a generator.We talked over the computer. A few houses down from him a whole family was washed away.Why did he stay ,his mother was old and would not leave, so he would not leave her. He told me there was wide spread looting throughout the city. My point here is people are suffering there with no comforts,so before you start bitching about them getting gas,why don't you show a little compassion for the people who are trying to ride out a bad situation. God Bless those who are suffering. Americans should be helping each other not complaining about free gas to those in need.
Well said, Bobbis opinion! And I wonder how many of those getting the free gas are getting it for generators? It seems to me that right now, that a lot of that free gas would be used to power generators. Also, NYC is a densely populated area, and it seems to me that that fact alone would complicate the logistics tremendously. And how many people have cash on hand, and how many ATM's are up and running? All I can say, is that people throughout the nation need to learn what is REALLY important to learn in this situation: 1.) Watch out who you pass judgement on--it just might be YOUR ox that get's gored next. 2.) No one area is completely immune to natural catastrophe, so prepare as best you can for your situation. Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness. The one thing I disagree with FEMA on is that I believe we all need to have at a minimum, enough food/water/supplies on hand for 2 weeks instead of the recommended 3 days. But if all you can afford is 3 days, at least you've started! Do what you can, and add to your prep supplies a little bit at a time as you are able. And 3.):--Last but NOT least--ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!!! How you treat your fellow human beings, how you react to situations that you have no control over--after all, who among us could just say to that super storm "Stop right now, cause I said so--cause I'm the Donald!" Ain't gonna happen! Well, all any of us humans have in the way of control, is how we react. Will you react in such a way, that you become a better human being? THAT's where we have our power!!
I find it perplexing that their are those that complain about helping our citizens, however they have no problem "rebuilding other countries" - Mitt Romney. Or giving money to other countries.
It's my tax money too and I am happy we are in a position to help our own.
Wanna know who''l be pushing to the front of the lines or screamin bloody .......... if they don't get theirs, yup, them teabags!!!!!
EVERYTHING is free in Obamaland! The WIZARD will provide, with our money! free? NO idiots, it is paid for by someone else! just not you, and you wonder where entitlements come from?
NYC is the land of entitlements, and freeloading greedy opportunists who then cry greedy wall streeters!
Why is the gas free?
Because there is a disaster?
This is beginning to look more and more like Katrina. People in NO were ill prepared. Choose to not evacuate. And then were completely dependent on the government to bail them out. People in Mississippi, and western Louisiana, rolled up their sleeves and went to work to fix things. Looks like the people in NY are taking the NO route. Want the government to bail them out. Looks to me they didn't take Sandy seriously.
I do feel sorry for you guys in NY, but unfortunately you get fruit of the seeds you plant.
This is crap! Gas is a privilege NOT A RIGHT! Water, food, shelter to live, but NOT GAS to drive around!
In times of disaster we need to come together, to help each other. To remember that regardless of our political affiliation, in the end we are one nation. We do need, however, leaders that can lead. We need elected officials that can see past an election, and passing out free gasoline, and come together to solve this country's problems. In the case of New York, instead of passing out free gasoline for people to burn in individual generators, they should have opened shelters for those people to go to, where they could be centrally cared for, given meals, water, and warm shelter. If people want to stay in their home, that is their choice - the government shouldn't be encouraging them to stay in sub-standard and possibly dangerous conditions by giving free gas.
Instead of helping the people, the politicians couldn't see past the chance of a political stunt.
Where's the Free Coffe and Doughnuts with the Gas ??
Just another Failure !!!!!! There is no reason it took this long for gas !!
your an idiot high water downed lines and closed roads,like your head.
I guess we know what our governor thinks of upstate NY--FREE FUEL??? So...our tax money is giving away free fuel if you live in NYC, but didn't give sqat for fuel a year ago when Irene destroyed half of Schoharie County. That pretty much says we don't have enough voters in upstate NY to matter to the governor. What a shame...
I'll bet Romneys oil buddies hate this.
Not FREE
Millions of TAXPAYERS money. Just another give away.
and to help americans too,hopefully you are swept away in a future disaster.
Joe. I wonder how your great great grandparents lived without gas? Gas is not life essential!
You cant simply tax millions in tax payer money and give it away to make yourself look good.
The money belongs to the people. STOP WASTING taxpayers money.
They can afford gas, the point is it is in short supply temporally not that they are in danger.
Obama did not promise free gas to the people - only first responders and 10 gallons only. It is Gov. Cuomo that made the promise. He is the one who was out of line. Please put the blame where it belongs. Gov. Christie rations gas.
Federall government not state government give out free gas. over 48 million dollars of taxpayers money.
Wrong. What next TV's? CArs?
Obama will discover that spending two days being concerned and getting good media will not last. This will take a long time just as Katrina took a long time. The president has limited ability to change that just the same as Katrina....The really big dif so far is that Bush got bad press while Obama gets good press.....but all the bad news is starting to sink in to the people living in that area. You dont just flip a switch and have everything back to normal. If the election were a week or two later, much of that bad news for Obama would be reality. It also temporarily ended the discussion of the economy, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, etc.
It was different because Bush was on his lazy butt as usual before Katrina went down and appointed a crappy *** FEMA director and waited three days before to use the National Guard. In fact, pretty much his whole administration was on vacation.
jd....Yea, tell that to the home owners six months down the road when their houses still are a bunch of broken up boards. The situation is not any better just because Obama is president.
Stampede, LOL
please retitle article, from the sensational title "free" oil to U.S. "shares" oil with its citizens who are in desparate need out of stocks which will need to be replaced at taxpayer expense most likely probably at higher winter prces. Could broadcast notion that everything the government provides is "free" potentially result in a bankrupt nation, like Greece?
New York State is a Liberal based society. They were not prepared for the Storm because they expected the Federal Government to come in and saw no reason to get prepared.
It has been many years since Florida has asked for help from the Government during Hurricanes.
Florida will stand its ground and vote for Mitt Romney
the government's steppin up to the plate, uh? good for them!!!
Give me a whole bunch of other peoples money and watch me go
You're sitting on a gold mine honey bunny.
Go (((hustle))) it - a bit!