Floridians wait for hours at free fuel distribution site following Hurricane Milton

PLANT CITY, Fla. ( WIAT ) — Hundreds of Floridians are now left with fuel to fill their tanks after Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday.

Residents in Plant City, which is just outside of Tampa, lined outside Plant City Stadium on Saturday to fuel their cars with free gas provided by tanker trunks.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined alongside Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie at a press conference at the distribution sight to provide updates of recovery efforts. They discussed how the state plans to help residents amid the fuel shortage by offering free 10 gallons of fuel per customer at one of three set distribution sites in Plant City, Bradenton and St. Petersburg.

According to DeSantis, the shortage is a result of some gas stations being without power because of Hurricane Milton, which also affected deliveries for the ports at Tampa Bay.

Plant City resident Donna Williams is just one of hundreds, if not thousands, who waited in line at the Plant City Stadium on Saturday morning to fill her car’s gas tank.

“I’ve been up since 6 o’clock this morning trying to find gas.” Williams said.

Carlos Rodriguez is another resident who did the same.

“We got here at like 9:15, so probably about two hours, two hours and a half about now,” Rodriguez said.

Williams and Rodriguez said the fuel shortage is an experience the have never been through before.

“I’m a Floridian — Plant City,” Williams said. “First time that there has been this kind of shortage with gas. I don’t remember it ever being like this.”

Despite the frustration, Rodriguez said he is trying to remain optimistic.

“We’ve been through storms before, but nothing like this,” Rodriguez said. “But we’ll make this pass.”

As of noon Saturday, DeSantis said the ports at Tampa Bay started to open, which would help bring more fuel to gas stations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.