Oil industry experts says it is a 'logistics problem,' and not an actual shortage fo gasoline, which led to the seventies-style pop up lines at many area gas stations on Thursday, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton told 1200 WOAI news it is clearly a function of the temporary loss of several refineries along the Gulf Coast due to Hurricane Harvey.
"Some are asking, if there is no gasoline shortage, why is there a logistics issue?" he said. 'Unfortunately this is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, its' a run on the bank like in the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life.'"
Sitton says it is true that major refineries are temporarily out of service due to Harvey's bizarre 'double hit' on the state. It came ashore last weekend near Corpus Christi, knocking out major refineries there, and then it came ashore again, flooding out the huge refineries that line the Gulf Coast near Houston and Port Arthur.
And while he says the loss of the production of these refineries is significant, about 2 million barrels of gasoline per day, there is still enough gasoline across the country to serve all motorists. But he says local retailers may have to obtain that gas from a new place as their traditional suppliers have been affected by the storm.
But he says most of the problems are caused by motorists overreacting.
"People are hearing of concerns," he said. "They are texting each other, oh my gosh, you have to go get gas right now. They are taking their gas cans, they are taking their Suburbans. Even if all of the refineries were running right now, we would still be running into this issue."
Sitton says the runs, not a basic gasoline shortage, have led to some stations running out of gas.
"If you on the average fill up your car every six days, but you go today, and so does everybody else, that is six times the demand on every gas station."
But price is a different story. The need to seek out supplies from more distant sources, plus the demand placed on retailers by the panic buying, has pushed up gasoline prices drastically. Some stations which were selling gas for $2.05 Thursday morning are selling it for $2.40 this morning.
IMAGE; GETTY