Floridians cleaning up from Hurricane Milton are hampered by fuel shortage

The damage from Hurricane Milton has disrupted power and fuel supplies in the sunshine state.

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People stand near a bent structure at a gas station, after Hurricane Milton made landfall, in Lakewood Park, near Fort Pierce. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:04am, 13 Oct 2024Updated: 3:38pm, 13 Oct 2024

Floridians recovering from Hurricane Milton, many of whom were journeying home after fleeing hundreds of miles to escape the storm, spent much of Saturday searching for gas as a fuel shortage gripped the state.

In St. Petersburg, scores of people lined up at a station that had no gas, hoping it would arrive soon. Among them was Daniel Thornton and his 9-year-old daughter Magnolia, who arrived at the station at 7am and were still waiting four hours later.

“They told me they have gas coming but they do not know when it’s going to be here,” he said. “I have no choice. I have to sit here all day with her until I get gas.”

Governor Ron DeSantis told reporters on Saturday morning that the state opened three fuel distribution sites and planned to open several more. Residents can get 37.85 litres each, free of charge, he said.

“Obviously as power gets restored … and the Port of Tampa is open, you’re going to see the fuel flowing. But in the meantime, we want to give people another option,” DeSantis said.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis holds a news conference at a fuel depot in Plant City, accompanied by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. Photo: AP

Officials were replenishing area gas stations with the state’s fuel stockpiles and provided generators to stations that remained without power.