In an effort to alleviate long lines at the pump in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Nassau County instituted a gasoline rationing plan on Friday that limits the days on which the county’s residents can fill up.
The plan, which was also implemented by Suffolk County and New York City in partnership with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, adopts the odd-even rationing scheme used by New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Drivers with license plates ending in even numbers will only be allowed to buy gas on even numbered days, with the reverse enforced for drivers with odd-numbered plates.
Vanity plates are treated as odd-numbered under the plan.
A spokesperson for Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said the plan was already reducing wait times.
“It is evident that the gas-rationing plan has worked,” wrote spokesperson Kara Guy in an e-mail. “After the initial rush on Friday, gas lines were dramatically reduced – in some cases almost eliminated – by Saturday afternoon.”
“This is designed to let everybody have a fair chance so that the lines aren’t too oppressive and that we can get through this,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg about the city’s implementation of rationing. “This is not a step we take lightly but given the shortage we will face over the next two weeks and the growing frustrations of New Yorkers, we believe it is the right step.”
The move follows nearly two weeks of shortages since Hurricane Sandy hit, crippling Long Island’s gas distribution system. Stations that had gas were unable to pump after losing power, and quickly sold out their reserves once electricity was restored.
And stations that are in business are often beset with hours long lines, with waiting drivers overflowing from parking lots and idling on public roads.
The rationing comes as New Jersey reconsiders its restrictions. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said at a press conference Thursday that lines in his state were greatly reduced and he would reevaluate the rationing policy this weekend.
Guy defended the timing of the policy, which came almost one week after New Jersey put its own odd-even rationing plan into place.
“The policy was implemented in cooperation with Suffolk County when it became apparent that the fuel shortage would last longer than expected,” wrote Guy.
Bloomberg addressed Sandy’s impact on the region’s gas distribution system at a press conference Thursday.
“Last week’s storm hit refineries hard and knocked out some of the critical infrastructure needed to distribute the gasoline,” said Bloomberg.
Much of the city’s petroleum infrastructure has been repaired since the storm, said Bloomberg, but fuel supplies are still much too low to support demand.
Only 25 percent of the city’s gas stations are open and shortages could continue for weeks, according to Bloomberg.
That assessment contradicts statements from public officials earlier this week indicating that the shortage was nearing its end.
Bloomberg said Saturday, Nov. 3 that the gas crunch would last a “couple more days.”
And Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman told Blank Slate Media that gas flow was no longer an issue on Tuesday.
“There is no fuel shortage at this point. Fuel has been coming out,” said Kaiman. “The issue now is the number of people who had not fueled up. And on top of that there are fewer stations open and more people than usual looking for gas.”
Nassau County Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick) proposed a bill on Wednesday that seeks to prevent future gas crises by requiring stations to have an alternative energy source in the event of an outage.
“Many stations had gas in the ground, but no means to pump it, which forced Long Islanders to wait on frustratingly long lines for gas,” Denenberg said in a statement. “This law hopes to alleviate that problem in the future, by having another means to pump gas.”
The rationing includes some exemptions. Commercial vehicles, taxis, emergency responders and people filling hand-held gas canisters are not subject to the restrictions.
The remaining length of the gas crunch is unknown, according to Guy, and depends on the reopening of gas terminals throughout the tri-state area and on full restoration of power to Nassau’s gas stations.
Reach reporter Dan Glaun by e-mail at dglaun@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
