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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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A snowstorm hits the Northeast as residents are still struggling to pick up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy.
Leave a Comment:
Now that obama doesn't need the votes any more, he is just being more flexible.
.....I've been looking for Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Mathews, Ron Reagan, Michael Moore, Kanye West etc., etc. all over south Queens and have not seen or heard from any of these hypocritical, racist arseholes.....they must be flying with Obozo today over to Asia for his victory parade.....in the meantime NYer's wait on four hour gas lines if they can find a rare station that is open.....this is the world these leftists phonies have wrought....
This isn't their fault, you dumb snot. They're doing what they can.
But as long as you're so pissed anyway, eat your heart out!
-god.....FU ahole....where are these whiny Hollywood @!$%#s.....who are you blaming.....Bush???? you moron...
NO nycguy, it seems like people are blaming you and people like you that knew the storm was coming, and didn't prepare for it. And you probably are one of the ones that bitch about the govt getting involved, until YOU need it, then complain about it. So FU ahole...
And for your information, NOLA still hasn't gotten back to normal after their storm and flooding. No thanks to the previous administration for that happening either. So why don't you do what you always preach about, USE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, and quit holding your hand out for govt help. Isn't that what you R's always say? It's a pain when karma hits you, isn't it nycguy?
SallyAnn...LOL...my, you welfare queen Obamabots are real morons aren't you....I haven't asked for or received a nickel from the government, you cu*t.......
Almost funny, except for the Americans that are hurting. This CONSISTENTLY BLUE state has been left high and dry now that the photo opps are over. Think who you vote for NY, in 2016.
Too bad Jay-Z, Beyonce, and Bruce Springsteen werent impacted or FEMA might work faster.
Also of note, the Iranians that fired on our drone in international waters LAST WEEK was kept out of the news until after the election. Why would he want to look weak and do nothing in retaliation right before the election? Now, it doesnt matter. The weak-minded moochers have spoken.
All of the liberal policies have come back to bite the northeast square in the butt. During the housing boom and all of the new taxes because of the fast rise in house prices they just passed more entitlements so everyone gets there fair share. You should have been updating your utilities and roads but it is much better idea to give all of the welfare rats there fair share. Good luck now maybe you will start to watch what your elected are actually spending the tax funds on. If not it will just repeat again.
Isn't it funny.. Obama jumps rightn in the middle of local affairs where has no business, but does nothing with his union buddies that refuse to allow non-union "scabs" to help get people back and running. He could easily direct generators and fuel to the area with a couple of phone calls. I truly hope the people who voted for him are happy. He is nothing more than hot air. I am sure he is looking at himself during his speeches.
The union buddies arent Trayvon and are not the black professor. Otherwise Odumbo would already have jumped in "(that pot-smoking kid could have been mine"). The people who voted for him deserve the broken promises and hot air. Try to find one that actually admits they voted for him. Then fix their situation last. I guarantee you wont find any who admit it. He is nothing to be proud about...as you said, hot air, and pro-union, self lover, gradually weakening America as much as he can get away with subtly.
Remember the Middle East? Oh wait, we dont talk about that anymore. Egypt used to be a tourist destination. Now nobody goes. Syria? Only 36000 civilians killed and counting. Libya...we had to go in and save the civilians, 2000 killed. Incosistent. Somalia? Sudan? Iran shooting at our aircraft and no retribution? Benghazi? Our allies are shuddering. But the Dems dont care....if it doesnt affect them today, they dont care. We just want pleasure and freebies. Very short-sighted. They want that money to stay with them...more hand-outs. Forget foreign policy. Watch us weaken.
If this had to be, it could not happen to a better part of the country (blue states). Your GOD (BO) will take care of you. I should be ashamed of myself but I just have to grin when I think of where the storm is. The only thing I regret is the non-liberals having to suffer also. Just hang in there liberals, evidentially your wonderful president will help. You have him on your side, you hope. HA!
This makes me chuckle. All these Obama voters waiting in long lines when they were promised no red tape from the liar-in-chief.
Good for them. Let their votes for Obama warm their stupid, leech asses while they wait in long lines for the second coming.
It ain't gonna happen. Obama used you idiots, now he's off to tour Asia. Again.
Joke's on you.
I think the last joke was on you technically, but what about your Republican kin in NY? Shirley you haven't forsaken them, you being a true Son of Liberty and all?
Obama didn't say anything about the "blue" tape.
I'm sure the republicans have their ducks in a row. It's the leeches who, you may recall, were on the rooftops after Katrina waiting for the government to save them yet again. Same on the east coast.
...hell of a job, Obozo, Cuomo, Bloomberg, Napolitano and the rest of the Dumbocrats handling the Sandy aftermath.......can't wait for you to implement the same standards and efficiency on all American's healthcare....that should work out just as well...morons....
This isn't their fault, you dumb snot. They're doing what they can.
But as long as you're so pissed anyway, eat your heart out!
get a grip, no one is envious of the hypocritical clown failure of a president, if there is any anger it is for the continued destruction and decline of our economy and our country. Although this is likely too hard for your spiteful little mind to understand, the real issues and problems.
We are the Net exporters of gasoline... Yet we are rationing.... Maybe lets stop exporting the gasoline and truck it up to the north east...
Couldn't if we wanted to. Obamas unions would block it.
Rationing won't help. There will be just as long a line on the even days as the odd and just as long as if you hadn't rationed in the first place. Let prices rise and demand will be destroyed or suppliers will have the incentive to get the gas to those who'll pay.
The first sensible comment on this discussion I've seen
BTW - while you're waiting in line for gas just think of Obama on his "victory" tour in south east Asia? Why would the newly minted president go there right after the election? What pressing matter does he have to attend to there?
Who cares! Obamas gas isn't rationed.
A lot of misery could have been prevented if the electric wires were buried. NY and NJ must force their utilities to bury the damn cables.
Good idea. That way they can just be flooded.
It seems to me that we are residing in a third world country or countries like Haiti or Nicaragua. We do not have power for the last fifteen days and Hicksville area is one of the least affected areas of Hurricane Sandy. We can understand and comprehend if the power cannot be restored in Long Beach, Long Island Fire, and/or Far Rockaway. But not Hicksville and surrounding areas. LIPA has always been reactive than proactive, full of bureaucracy and red tapes for any thing that needs to be done by LIPA. LIPA awards bonuses for job being well done, since they have done a lousy job we must impose penalties for the same and distribute those collected penalties to household that suffered most or donate it to Red Cross. We know that after all this LIPA will still award bonuses for even lousy jobs, that is what corporate America is all about.
Few days back Governor spoke of imposing penalties and thereafter nothing happened and it fizzled away. We want to know what steps were taken after that press conference to follow up on that remarks.
It is ridiculous and shame to know that we provide rescue on a war footing basis (for providing basic necessities) to other countries that are in dire need and the same war footing rescue cannot be implemented here for our own citizens.
Shame on LIPA for giving lame excuses for doing a lousy job from the beginning.
We are seeking the help from our elected representatives who promised us to protect and provide support in situations such as present. We are not asking for any freebies or any charity, what we are asking is leadership to resolve the crisis at hand.-Jay
They talk about gas rationing, what !!!!!!!!!!!!!. The US Navy escorted Gas tankers to provide relief to other countries and our Air Force Air lifted them for delivery in foreign countries to provide emergency relief for other citizens outside the USA. You think that cannot be implemented in the country. We must include them in the Shame List on Fox 5 news.
Sorry but the military is under orders from that idiot in the White House. call him and complain, the election is over. obama won, America lost. Get over it.
You are right, at least these idiots sitting in NY and NJ must do it.
No, you're the idiot. When it comes to domestic issues it's up to each state's governor to call out the National Guard. It's not up to the White House. That's forbidden by the Constitution.
You're pretty stupid for a vet.
FEMA has authority over the state. Last I heard, FEMA belonged to Obama.
He was talking about the military, not FEMA.
Stay on topic.
-G... I'm sure you were one of the a s sholes criticizing Bush when the stupid c*** of a governor of Louisiana held off giving Bush the okay to bring in troops.
You're sure of a lot of things, I bet, but since you're an idiot who jumps to conclusions, I don't care.
I was telling the truth and you know it.
You were telling the truth. It is up to the governor to allow troops into the state. The dem governor in Louisiana didn't let Bush order troops in until days after the flooding.
But that didn't stop folks like you ( a s sholes.. see above) from criticizing Bush and letting the dem governor off the hook. Don't forget the little loudmouth Nagin either. You jackasses loved his incompetent, race baiting ass as well.
That's ancient history, dipsh!t, and has nothing to do with this article or what's going on today.
All you want to do is b!tch and complain about things you imagine I was thinking, even though you're dead wrong. But, if you want to dwell on it forever and give yourself a stroke, that's fine with me. It means you're going to die soon.
Have a nice day ;-)
Another witty post. Are they all this brilliant or are you saving the best just for me?
Stupid is as stupid does. Yes I remember Katrina, Camile, Besty, Issac, Hilda, and Andrew, and all the others that have hit the Gulf Coast since the last 60 years. Even with all the destruction and flooding in N.O. after Katrina - we didn't have gas rationing. Why??? The stations topped off all their tanks BEFORE the storm hit, and they all had generators for after the storm to be able to still sell gas tot he people. If you don't prepare before the storm what makes you think you will be ready after the storm? No one up there did anything to prepare before hand - so they caused their own misery. Most people up there don't have generators - down here everybody has a generator as prep for storms and any kind of power outage.
And I wish the media would stop calling it a superstorm. Christ sakes strongest winds were in NJ at 70 mph. Was not even a full fledged hurricane. Hurricanes are designated in 5 categories according to the Saffir/Simpson Scale: Category 1: 74-95 mph winds, Category 2: 96-110 mph winds, Category 3: 111-130
mph winds, Category 4: 131-155 mph winds, and Category 5: winds greater than 155
mph. This storm didn't even rank as a cat 1 storm.
They build 500-800 thousand dollar homes on the beach with no sea wall/ no levees - what do you expect is going to happen when the ocean sends 12-15 foot waves and you are only 2-5 feet above sea level and 20 feet from the waters edge???? Duh?? Why do you think we don't have basements and put our electricity underground???? Yep water flows downhill so if the tide comes in and there is a hole going underground where do you think the water is going?? At some point in time, people have to be smarter than the conditions brought upon us by a storm.
Actually, they are just waking up to the preview of life under a second term Obama.
So many still without power? Crews came from other states to help, but the union ran them off. Where does anyone get off whining about being out of power?
Can we drop the "Odumbo" and its variants? Show some respect, at least for the office, if not the man. My God, I hated President Bush's (W) administration, but I didn't go around calling the president childish, never mind borderline racist names.
And just to be all bipartisan, it's Governor Romney, and Congressman Ryan. Let's drop the "repugs" and "Rob me Ryan" and all the rest. Elected offices, in my opinion, deserve extra respect. Would you rather have the Chinese system?
I hate to say it, but calling for decorum on the 'Vine is like trying to talk to dolphins about hang-gliding.
...excuse me, but in America, we still have freedom of speech and these politicians work for us, we don't work for them....they are not royalty, pal, maybe when Obozo shows some respect for half of America, he may get some in return.....until then, too bad.....
This is being caused by laws in NY that restrict charging prices based on market demand, or what is commonly called "price gouging". If you allowed gas stations to raise the prices due to the increased demand and limited supply, then people would refrain from hoarding the gas and purchase only what they need.
Additionally, if the price, based on increased demand and decreased supply, suddenly increased, then companies would have motivation, in the form or increased profit margins, to increase the supply. This would lead to increased supply and lower prices, as well as stability in the market.
As we always see, the government passes feel good laws which only make the situation worse, and then passes more laws and restrictions to deal with the problems that they created.
Rationaing gas? Here's the way around that: Go to gas station #1, wait in line, put in 1/4 tank & be asked to leave. Move onto to station #2, wait, fill another 1/4 tank... and so on.
Haha to the east coast. As if I wasn't already tired of hearing about them all the time.
I thought most New Yorkers didn't have cars, instead opting for public transportation.
Haven't we voted Bloomberg out of office yet? Sh-t!
Much better idea: Require a 10-gallon minimum for cars, 12 for SUVs, and 15 for trucks. This will keep people from topping off their tanks when they're down 2 gallons, as they'll have to pay a $40+ minimum. That's what causing the lines, just as it did in 1974 and 1980.
With the storm on the way the other day I had to fill up from 3/4 tank before the snow because I couldn't get gas the next day and knew lines would be ridiculous the day of the storm...if I didnt fill up when I did I would have been stuck out of gas in the snow.
Where are Obama and his Bff's Chris Christie & Mayor Bloomberg? Don't forget about FEMA!!!