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Richard Drew / AP
A man carries gas cans at a gasoline station in New York as a police officer in the background directs cars to pumps on Friday morning.
Updated at 2 p.m. ET -- NEW YORK -- New York drivers woke up Friday to the first widespread gas rationing since the fuel crisis of the 1970s, as the Northeast struggles to recover from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy and a subsequent snowstorm.
Officials said the gas rationing was imposed because something had to be done to ease the long waits for fuel, which they say has caused panic-buying and hoarding.
Police officers were assigned to gas stations to enforce the new system, beginning their shifts at 5 a.m. in Long Island and 6 a.m. in New York City.
"This is designed to let everybody have a fair chance, so the lines aren't too oppressive and that we can get through this," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. Officers would also make sure people "don't get pushy in line," Bloomberg told WOR-AM radio on Friday morning.
The nor'easter brought gusting winds, rain and snow on Wednesday and early Thursday before it moved on. Snow blanketed several states from New York to New England and stymied recovery efforts from Sandy as additional storm-weakened trees snapped and more power lines came down.
In New Jersey, after a difficult commute Thursday night that saw heavily armed police trying to quiet crowds at area bus and train stations, authorities added free buses and ferries Friday to try and ease commutes that have been four and five times longer than normal all week. Meanwhile, temporary ferry service will be offered from the Rockaways to Manhattan while the area's subway service is suspended.
New York City’s program of gas rationing is modeled on one New Jersey implemented last week -- allowing drivers to fill up on alternating days depending on their license plate number -- that has reduced lines dramatically. On Thursday, Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., told reporters he plans to re-evaluate over the weekend whether New Jersey still needs to continue its gas rationing system, reported NJ.com.
"The last two days, I've barely seen any fuel lines anymore," Christie said. "There's order, there's easy access to gas."
In New York, however, Bloomberg indicated that the city had little choice but to implement the policy.
"It now appears there will be shortages for possibly another couple weeks," Bloomberg said, later adding, "If you think about it, it's not any great imposition once you get used to it."
Bloomberg said only a quarter of the city's gas stations were open. Some were closed because they were out of power, others because they have been unable to get fuel from terminals and storage tanks that cannot unload their cargoes.
Full NBCNews.com coverage of Sandy's aftermath
Gas will be available to drivers with license-plate numbers ending in an odd number or a letter on Friday. On Saturday, drivers with license plates that end in even numbers or zero can fuel up.
Buses, taxes and limousines, commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles are exempt from the plan, as are people carrying portable gas cans. Vanity plates that do not have numbers are considered odd-numbered plates. Out-of-state drivers are also subject to the system.
But, he added, with some evidence that it's made the lines for gas shorter in New Jersey, the system was worth a try.
New Yorkers, never known for holding their tongues, let their exasperation with the bad weather show.
"Kick in the gas," the New York Post blared in a headline on its website, a day after its print newspaper hit the streets with the cover headline, "God hates us!"
Anger at utilities
Hundreds of thousands of utility customers, mostly in New York and New Jersey, are still waiting for their electricity to come back on -- and some are losing patience, demanding investigations of utilities they say are not working fast enough.
An angry New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined the calls for an investigation on Thursday, ripping the utilities as unprepared and badly managed.
"It's unacceptable the longer it goes on because the longer it goes on, people's suffering is worse," he said.
But New Jersey Gov. Christie praised his state’s utilities, saying he expects all of his state to have power back by early Sunday.
The utilities have said they are dealing with damage unprecedented in its scope and are doing the best they can.
There is no denying the magnitude of what they have done: At the peak, more than 8.5 million homes and businesses across 21 states lost power during Sandy. Early Friday, there were more than 288,000 outages in New York and about 273,000 in New Jersey.
Some people have lived for days in the dark in temperatures near freezing.
"We lost power last week, just got it back for a day or two, and now we lost it again," said John Monticello of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. "Every day it's the same now: turn on the gas burner for heat. Instant coffee. Use the iPad to find out what's going on in the rest of the world."
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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- Giffords, Kelly confront Tucson shooter in court
- Record snow, new power outages as storm slams Northeast
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Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
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A snowstorm hits the Northeast as residents are still struggling to pick up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy.
Leave a Comment:
The more rights you are trying to deny others, the less rights you would have on yourself.
Simple logic and yet so many failed to see it.
Let's just continue to deny others and one day you would realize that you barely have any freedom left at all.
Yes, logic so simple (and so common) that it has a name --- tautology.
Cuong: You probably voted for Obama so what do you mean "denying rights"?
Even during Hurricane Sandy, FEMA ( the govt.) did absolutely nothing to help people. What did help people was the churches and other non-govt. charities/volunteers.
I hear Obama now wants to increase taxes on them too.
Just remember this is no longer Bush's problem, so everyone can finally stop blaming him. This is now an OBAMA presidency.
Not sure anyone is trying to deny anyone any rights and not sure your convoluted statement is anything more than the irratonal ramblings of someone who has no idea what they are talking about.
Also not sure what anything you said has anythng to do with gas rationing
@LostInThePineBarrens
Right, I am rambling on what?
You say others are doing bad things and thus it is up to you to prevent them to do that. However, for others people, what you are doing are bad as well.
This is for everything, if you stop people because you think they are wrong, then others will stop you and in the end, you have less rights as well as everyone else.
Yes, rambling logic because it just makes sense and you failed to see it.
1 deleted, nonsensical derail about 'racists' from stevejc42 that ended with:
Post on-topic. You're suspended for a week for violating #4 of the Code of Honor. Grim history.
We all should be lucky. We are witnessing the collapse of this world folks.
Obozo's promises for the People of NY/NJ and others who suffered during Sandy were just smoke and mirrors for the election. SEE how much he cares? He actually stopped by.
Chris Matthews said the Best.Sandy was the best thing that could have ever happened to Obama's election campaign. He couldn't have done it better if he tried. Perfect timing.
I feel badly for those who are suffering now. We will ALL be suffering soon enough.
4more years of Failure.
Well you just can't waste a good crisis can you! Photo opps here! Photo opps here, come and get your photo opps!
Whats sux is that no one pushed the fact that he would not let veterans into his "circle" when he spoke at the washington monument/wwII area. He let his "circle" but would not let legitimate vets. They were held off, with the rest of the public so he could have his photo op!
this guy is a cancer and we cannot/will not be able to recover......history was written alright.... this was the person that brought the US down!
It's funny how NONE of this was brought to light on Tuesday? All of a sudden we now have a gas shortage? I thought things were getting better. At least that was what the media was reporting on Monday......
Shows you..... you can't trust MSNBC!
Maybe if people lead a decent life God would not punish them..)><))))">......
Really? So tell me the different before and after religions come to this world?
Are you telling there are no bad things in the past couple hundred years? What were God reason for all the death before this?
This is the earth punishing for the way men have treated it not God
Actually is is just natural disasters caused by weather, It happened before many first set foot on this planet and will happen long after we are gone.
Cuong: You really are angry at God, aren't you?
Haven't you ever read Romans 11: 22?
No much difference, man has always been a conquerer, The strong has always tried to rule the weak.
If you believe in God then you probably believe that God gave man free will and therefore you can not blame God for what man has done, If you do not believe in God then the only person to blame is man.
I just noticed the symbols arranged to creat a fish...cool )>))))'>
Interesting to note all the "weather" stuff that happened right when Joe Booben and Odumbo announced they were all for men having sex with each other as a new American standard and moral.
Hurricane Sandy, largest ever in Atlantic Basin
NAtionwide heat wave in June that broke over 3,000 US records
Worst drought in the Midwest in 50 years.
In Minnesota in June, worst flash floods in over 100 years.
Colorado wildfires destroyed over 200,000 acres and did over $440 million in damage.
Just say'in.
So, I am angry with God for asking obvious question of what God has done so far or religions have done so far.
People used God for everything in the past thousands years, saying God for everything and yet we are still here.
Call Obama!- He's the man! He will solve your problems and the gas will be free too. I am sure you are all tied into the Obamaphone. The weather is Bushes fault and BO can fix that you know!
BO? You mean Stinky??? Yes, He can!!
A lot of righties trying to get back at Obama for being re-elected.
How do those grapes taste? Pretty sour? Makes a good whine.
Sorry the president doesn't have magic underwear that will take care of all your little problems Kelldon. I'm sure all of your troubles are caused by the President and you bear no responsibility. Take personal responsibility. It is the Right who call the President the Messiah, it is also you who say people voted for him to get handouts. Well, I know he is just a man, and i like his ideas. Also, I have a job....actually make $20,000 more a year than the beginning of his time in office, got a promotion, bought a house, bought a new car.....
It's amazing what you can do when you hold yourself to some standards and stop blaming everyone else for your misery.
Also, I know 3 people who get public assistance and guess what..... they are conservatives.
Well here we go now after all these years we will find out what a second Jimmy Carter term woul belike...Gas ratioing on top of list....buckel up it is going to be a very rough ride down the Lberal CRAPPER!!!! ENJOY!!!
Hey folks, before you get yourselfs excited, read the article. NY is copying NJ's idea of having odd and even days to fill your tank at gas stations. This isn't rationing! It's working great here in NJ. No long lines, you can just drive up to the pump and fill up on your correct day. Today is 11/9 that means if your license number ends in an odd number you can fill up today. Tomorrow is an even day.
Actually, it *is* rationing: it's a limit on purchasing, though not on consumption.
However, I do think it is a very good idea and a fairly unobtrusive way to alleviate (but not fix) a big problem.
Yes we have odd and even days here in NJ, 12 of 21 counties are subject to this. If you have enough gas to get out of one of those 12 counties and get to a county that does not have odd even then you can fill up your tank. The problem is that many of those affected lost everything including homes,cars,personal property, many are trying to get fuel for generators so that they can attempt to get their lives back under control.
I remember the odd/even under Carter...it sucked so I can understand what these people are feeling now.
There shouldn't even be rationing oh smart one. Can you bend over a little farther? There's a place they missed right around your brain. Oh, and did you know you can actually pump gas from a fuel truck into a car?
How does this reduce hoarding? Now people can hoard fuel every other day.
It might reduce the fuel wasted while people wait in line.
Not seeing news about the restoration of mass transit - what is the status? Is any of it still offline? The Cuomo should be screaming at them like he is harping at the utilities (it doesn't make me work faster-safer-better when I am trying my best and someone is berating me.) Seems like restoring normal bus, train, subway, ferry, limo, cab service would reduce the need for people to drive to work or wherever. Perhaps the Nat. Guard buses can provide free shuttle service in places where there is no transit available. Then there would only be cabs and people with hand containers in gas lines.
mailman8: It not only reduces the fuel wasted while people wait in line, but it also ensures that the stations can't get hit with half the cars on any given day. That makes it easier to keep them from going dry.
We didn't do that in CT, and the day after Sandy there were stations that just ran out of gas. (Fortunately, CT had already cut a lot of trees during Irene last year so we got power restored to most areas faster than NY/NJ did, and the storm didn't hit us quite as hard.)
And many people who owned Gas Stations got back up generators, and had gas shipped in within a reasonable amount of time.If they ran out by the afternoon, they had a shipment by night.
The tree cutting helped but that wasn't the main reason!It took a week to get the power restored, and it was all back on by Monday,except for the ones whose homes were destroyed down on the shore!
And Cuomo and Chris Christie keep saying there's no supply issue. Yet a lack of refined gas in northern New Jersey so gas trucks are filling up in Philadelphia to drop off in Long Island. The Bayway refinery in New Jersey is offline. And for a time of the pipelines and harbors weren't working. There's more then just lack of power at gas station causing people to have to line up for hours at the gas station. It's unofficial, there is a gas shortage in New York and New Jersey.
Some one has to explain to me how odd/even gas rationing works. If one million drivers plan to fill up over a 2 day period, how does making them go on different days ration gas? For example: Lets say odd driver #1 may have been able to hold off an extra day before filling up. Now he has to go today instead because he may not make it 2 extra days. I'm sure that same scenario is the case for many drivers. Forcing drivers to fill up on a certain day is adding to the problem not helping alleviate it. It's only making them fill up sooner. Am I the only one that sees it this way?
It's working very well in NJ. Not everyone who can get gas on a specific day goes to the pumps on the same day. We no longer have the long lines. You're right it isn't rationing, it's only reorganizing. I have an odd # plate, and got gas on Monday, I won't need to refill at least until Tuesday. It works fine.
Disgustedmom-2285995 It's still making some drivers fill up sooner then they may need to. This is adding to the problem.
If that occurs it is only an issue on the first day, from day two on it simply means that only half of all vehicles can present to a gas station each day, immediately halving the problem.
I've seen a lot of NY plates here over the past few days, and not a few people with a bunch of gas cans. (I assume they took the Port Jefferson Ferry).
It only affects 12 of NJ's 21 counties so if you go to an unaffected county then you can fill up on any day.
So why not implement a system where we can divide it further by using the last digit, and allowing cars to fill up only when their last digit matches the last digit of the date? So if you have a plate ending in 7, you can only fill up on the 7th, 17th, or 27th. That ought to make lines just about disappear!
Yes, odd-even seems to work, but I'm also puzzled why. It doesn't increase throughput of the gas pumps, because the lines are non stop. If there were days where there were NO lines, and other days where the lines are horrendous, then the odd-even distribution should work. But it seems like the lines are horrendous EVERY day, so that's why I find it ODD how this EVEN works... ;)
All of you voted for Obama and you can't even figure out how odd even works? That say's a lot right there of why wer'e all screwed.
Been thinking about this also, it could be the nature of some people, being worry warts, to always try to keep the tank above 1/2 tank, so they would end up clogging the lines to pump in their 5 gallons. By forcing them to wait at least one day between fills, it would keep those people from adding to the line, and making them use up more of their tank before lining up again. I don't know how many of these people there are though, that would put themselves through the torture of the lines every day. If there are many of them, this would help alleviate the lines in that way.
Maybe it'll also put fuel economy in the thoughts of some drivers, knowing they can't fill up every day, and not race up to the red lights in the stoplight derby as some are still prone to doing.
Klr Rider is correct - it is a psychological thing, not a practical reduction in consumption.
Some people see a big line and just have to get in it. "OMG, if gas is that hard to get and the line is so long, I'd better get in it every day - though it does take 4 or 5 days to go from full to 1/4-tank."
The practical reduction is the prevention of waste while sitting in gas lines. If they want to encourage conservation, they would limit drive-thrus at restaurants, banks, cleaners, liquor stores, funeral homes (it IS New Jersey). Make an emergency order that no vehicle can use retail drive-thru unless they have disabled tags or two-or-more toddlers in child seats.
.....and at least 250k still without electric
This was not as bad a storm as Katrina, but handled every bit as poorly.
LIAR LIAR LIAR!!!! The President would TELL us if they needed any assistance, you racist SoS. Leave President Stinky (BO) ALONE!!!!
TiredofLosers: This stom was twice as devastating as Katrina. Where have you been????? How would you handle all the myriad problems that stretch from New York to the Carolina's. Lots of inane criticism cause your a2sus is sitting somewhere dry. Your name is fitting.
Bloomberg just said everyone needs to get a fair shot at the gasoline and so he is just delivering on Obama's promise of giving everyone a fair shot --within days of his election, Obama has done it--everyone has a fair shot now
Any businesses that has the capability and can allow workers coming from long distance to telecommute, will also help alleviate a little bit of the pressure. I know that my company has the capability and has allowed this to happen for the past 2 weeks. My management pulled out all the stops and even recommended that people who were living close by to work from home 3 days after the hurricane hit. Let us be honest, we do have a shortage and as general public we have to help each other. In addition, if we can car pool while commuting to work, will help the situation as well. Taking simple steps like going to the grocery store on the way back from work will help as well. Avoiding trips that can be postponed should be done.
Hope everyone stays safe and let us hope for the best for an improved situation soon.
I guess the "handling" of Katrina did not teach anybody anything? Lots of broken promises, no leadership and STILL dealing with Katrina issues. If the NE is expecting a "quick fix", the word "delusional" comes to mind. I am hearing alot of the SAME comments coming from in the NE that I heard after Katrina. Time for the people to come together and do your best to survive. Don't wait on the government, FEMA or even the Red Cross. They are not on the same page and never will be. Blessings to all of Sandy's "people".
But didn't President Stinky (BO) PROMISE??? According to Chris Matthews, Sandy was the thing the country needed more than anything.
I guess that's where we on the Gulf coast had it a little better. We all own trucks. We were driving as far out as 200 miles and filling up drums of fuel and bringing it back in. Talk about two extremes. After Rita whe had such oppressive heat people were dying. The people up there now are dealing with freezing temps. It's rough. Have been right where these people are now...Twice.
Living in coastal Carolina, we went for almost 2 weeks with no power after Ophelia. Just about melted my arse off. It doesn't seem to me that the NY and NJ utilities are doing that bad of a job. More likely, people just aren't used to it. It does indeed suck.
I hear that there is plenty of mountain dew though
just as long as it isn't over 16 oz. course they never imagined people who have two hands COULD simply buy two cups....
@IA.ScooterTramp: Two cups? Wouldn't that require four girls?
no one girl generally will fill two cups....quite nicely i might add........
Only if they were breast cancer survivors.
(Collapsing in 3...2...1...)
How is the supply of beer, malt liquor, and Mad Dog wine?
At least here in Bridgeport a bottle of Night Train can be had for $3.79 *with* the paper bag.
Move to Phoenix....cheap gas, cheap real estate, very low property taxes, no storms, earthquakes or hurricanes.
and no longer a need to be bi-lingual.....just speak Spanish......
CuongDNguyen - Of course I remember Katrina! Do you remember how Bush was treated by the media over the handling of it? How has Stinky (BO) done better? I know.....we have to cut the affirmative action president some slack, yes?
just spend a little more time here.....gives me gas everyday.....
Iamanogody, thanks for the common sense comments instead of more negativity. As to the comment that this storm wasn't as bad as Katrina (tiredoflosers & JP)... are you freaking kidding me, this was one hell of a massive storm hitting one of the most populated areas of the country. Yes, this is a horrible situation; this storm couldn't have hit at a worse time of year as winter sets in with bitter cold.
Having a system for getting gas without having to sit in line forever makes total sense, even if someone does have to fill up a little earlier than they would have otherwise... or they'll be the ones with the gas can to get them enough gas to function until it's actually their assigned day. Duh.
As far as the utility companies, my ex husband was employed by a telephone company... and it's NOT easy for these crews to get phone and power lines up and running in a day or two when you have this MASSIVE of damage! I will say that our local utility company actually sent a huge crew of 20 to help in the East... seems kind of minimal to me. So why aren't more utility companies sending more personnel to help get power up and running faster? How do you people expect govt to do it, anyway? Press a magic button?
When Hurricane Ike's winds hit us in OH a few years ago, our power was out for 5 days before they could get it up and running again... and that was NOTHING compared to Sandy. People need to have more realistic expectations on how long it's going to take to get even the smallest semblance of normalcy.
If your house is cold and you don't have power... aren't any of these people staying with friends and family until the power and heat are restored? Why can't functional hotels each offer up a floor or block of rooms... god knows they make plenty of profit and could actually give back for once.
And where the hell are all the big business donors to the election... this country made them richer than God and they can't help out when we have a major crisis??? A lot of them are the reason for climate change that produced Sandy anyway. As for the selfish who scream about how they're going to move out of the country to avoid paying their fair share of taxes... leave, don't come back... and if they try to get back in throw them in jail until they can be tried for treason. They don't even know the meaning of patriotism, all they know is greed. Put your money where your mouth is and actually do some good with your money for a change. Hey, I lost my job in July but still donated a significant amount to Sandy aid!!!
you're asking how come more utility companies aren't up there? How about the utility company from AL that was turned down because they weren't unionized? Maybe that's why. There are plenty of people willing to help but those snobs up in NY/NJ (I am a former NJ resident so I know what i'm talking about) are thumbing their noses at too many people.
and don't be fooled to think that Sandy was caused by climate change. Unless there are consisten and repetative storms of this magnitude and scope, there's no hypothesis or theory that can be made/tested to suggest climate change is the culprit. Blaming corporations for climate change? Please.
NY and NJ voted how? Great leadership hey! LMAO! Get ready for the huge tax increases next you fools.
gas? sure fella, but ya go near those doughnuts and somebody's going to get shot........
No red tape???? I know guys who went up there to help and they were turned away because of union issues. WTH!!?? We are trying to help one another and they are turning away assistance?? I have family in NJ. Fema and the president have done nothing to help. They have sent no money. All of the clothing and food have come from local businesses. Hell, FEMA was shut down yesterday. I think instead of flying to Chicago to thank those who helped him win, and planning to visit Asia next week, he should be trying to help our people on the east coast. Just my opinion.
Why did you re elect him now that he has a 2nd term he is forgetting all the BS promises he made but romney would probably done the same thimg.. But you voted for him in New York so live with it....
All the money went to the Governor....ask him.
FEMA supports people at the direction of local authorities, they are there to support. Did you not see all the people from other States that came to work on the East Coast? There is a huge swath of damage, but I know, people who don't like government seem to also want instant gratification from it.
Presidents don't go do the grunt work, none of them!! They talk to the Governor and he tells them what he needs. So...what exactly is it you want the President to do? Remember to hold that same standard for all Presidents regardless of party....
We need another photo op with Oblahbo. It's going to be O.K., he says it is.
sorry the elections over no need for photo ops now.......all he is concerned with now is getting under par....
psst hey fella wanna buy some hot gas? i got the good stuff here, 93 octane.
The election is over. Obama has forgotten about New York and New Jersey. He has no more elections to worry about. The people have been f....d!
Where are all the oppressive Zoning Laws that are to prevent this sort of thing ??