Historically, hurricanes have had the potential to wreak havoc on gas prices in the U.S., shutting down refineries or limiting the flow of fuel supply. A major hurricane in one part of the country can have nationwide ramifications. As we enter the beginning of hurricane season 2023, it’s important to freshen up on hurricane preparedness, especially if you live in hurricane-prone areas.
HOW TO STAY PREPARED
This resource from the NOAA provides a complete set of tools you should have in order to stay safe, should a hurricane affect your local area. However, in addition to typical hurricane preparedness tools, it’s important for everyone to be able to locate fuel and power, should you need it to fill your car to evacuate or power your generator. In the case of an emergency, GasBuddy will activate its Fuel Availability Tracker in order to help drivers find stations with and without fuel supply.
Here’s how to use the tracker in case you need it:
TO REPORT A STATION WITH NO GAS, NO DIESEL, OR NO POWER (2 WAYS):
- Quick Report Button (only enabled if stations in your vicinity are reported without fuel already). A quick reporting button —which only appears if you are very close to a station —will prompt you for information. Click on this button to report the gas, diesel and power situation at that station.
- Edit Station Detail Page. At the bottom of the Station Detail page, you can “Suggest Station Edits” and report whether it has gas, diesel or power.
The free GasBuddy app is available for download in the iOS and Google Play stores. The fuel availability tracker is also available online.
OTHER QUICK TIPS
- Fill Your Tank In Advance: Fill up your vehicle well before the storm. You can also store gasoline in an air-tight gasoline container in a cool, dark place or in a garage.
- Find Gas Quickly: If you need to refuel during an evacuation, the GasBuddy app will help you locate stations with fuel and electricity. If you notice a station without fuel on your trip, report the station in the app to help other motorists save time.
- Check Oil, Tires and Fluids: Get your vehicle serviced as soon as possible to reduce the possibility of a breakdown during an evacuation. Make sure your car is equipped with a spare tire (many new cars don’t have a spare tire) and additional items like an emergency kit.
- Keep Communications Charged: When returning after the storm, many areas may still be without power. Keep extra batteries and battery packs charged and accessible in your vehicle for cell phones and other communication devices.