In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, which has left a significant impact on Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis announced emergency measures to address fuel shortages in three cities. As power outages have rendered about 30% of gas pumps inoperable, DeSantis declared on October 12 that free gasoline would be distributed at selected locations in Plant City, Bradenton, and St. Petersburg, with a limit of 10 gallons per person.
Reports from Capitol Hill reveal that residents are struggling to secure fuel, as nearly a thousand people lined up outside the Plant City stadiumfor free gasoline supplied by fuel trucks. DeSantis explained that the fuel shortages were primarily due to the hurricane’s disruption, which also affected cargo transport at the Port of Tampa. He stated, “We want people to get what they need.”
According to data from GasBuddy, as of October 11, 29% of Florida’s 7,915 gas pumps were not operational. Many residents are attempting to return home or leave disaster-affected areas without access to gas.
Donna Williams, a resident of Plant City, shared her experience: “I woke up at 6 AM looking for gas.” Another local, Carlos Rodriguez, mentioned, “We arrived around 9:15 and now it looks like we’ll have to wait two to two and a half hours.”
Both Williams and Rodriguez expressed disbelief over the current fuel shortages, noting that such a situation had never occurred before. Williams added, “I’m from Plant City, Florida, and this is the first time I’ve seen this kind of gas shortage. I don’t remember anything like this happening before.”
Before the hurricane struck, DeSantis had reassured residents that fuel shortages were unlikely. However, once the storm caused power outages at gas stations, the situation took a quick turn. He commented, “If gas stations have no power to run the pumps, that’s an academic issue; what we’re doing in Florida is having Kevin Guthrie and his team from the Emergency Management Office on standby with portable generators.”
Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm on October 9, two categories weaker than previously anticipated, but the heavy rainfall resulted in extensive flooding and damage, prompting power outages, tornadoes, and submerged vehicles and homes. With rescue teams mobilized, the hurricane has tragically claimed at least 23 lives in the United States.
