Gas Stations Work To Keep Up With Demand During Outages

Some gas stations are having a hard time keeping up with the demand for fuel right now.

Some places are seeing three times the amount of normal traffic, while others have people waiting hours for the pumps to be refilled.

Lisa Johnston drove from Inola to Owasso to fill up.

“We have no electricity, our roads are covered with poles and powerlines,” said Johnston.

She said there is no gas in town to fill the three generators being used by all of her family members. She is headed back on the 40-minute trip with 15 gallons of gas.

“Just got through not too long ago getting beef butchered,” said Johnston. “It’s easier to haul and get gas than to replace all that meat.”

Surrounding cities also report more people at the pumps. The lines have been long outside The Cove in Sperry.

“They’ve been calling me from Owasso, Collinsville, Skiatook, Tulsa,” said Brian Thomas, owner. “All day long we’ve been getting phone calls.”

Thomas said the station ran out of fuel last night, but supply is back for now.

“The supplier called me late yesterday, asked if I was willing to pay the extra shipping to get a terminal out of Oklahoma City,” said Thomas. “Of course, I jumped right on the chance and they showed up early this morning.”

In a Tuesday news conference, Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum said there is no gas shortage. He said tanker trucks are currently working on refilling many gas stations.