Mayor Nirenberg today urged gas station owners to voluntarily restrict the amount of gas individual purchasers can buy as a way to end the 'run on the tank' which has left many stations without gasoline, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The mayor also urged citizens to 'purchase fuel only as needed' during the long Labor Day weekend.. He asked retailers to 'voluntarily and temporarily' limit individual gas purchases.
"Be a good neighbor, Nirenberg said.
Texas oil industry officials agree that panic buying by consumers, driven by social media; people buying gas even though they don't need it, and that is causing stations to run dry.
""Hoarding is the problem," he said, describing the current situation as 'hysteria.'
The mayor said he has heard stories of people hauling 55 gallon drums to gas stations to fill up.
"Refineries and pipelines are expected to be restored to service early next week," he said.. "In the meantime, supply trucks are hauling gas from Corpus Christi and other area refineries, but this is a slower delivery process."
But Nirenberg says San Antonians need to know that gasoline deliveries are being made and will continue to be made, and panic buying and unnecessary topping off of tanks is hindering the process of returning the situation to normal.