Gas stations: When we close, pumps close

With a second hurricane in two weeks set to hit Florida, residents began preparations.

As water and canned goods flew off the shelves Sunday, lines began building at gas stations days before Hurricane Milton makes landfall, forecasted to be Wednesday.

Venice's Wawa traded its normally popular food bar for gas tank refills.

Ron Verrochio, a Venice resident since 2013, filled up five gas tanks, four of which are for his home generator. Verrochio said his past experience with hurricanes Ian and Idalia have helped him learn what is a priority when prepping for the upcoming storm.

Despite just finishing up repairs to his roof after Ian, he said he remains "optimistic" ahead of the forecasted Category 3 storm.

One complaint he had was self-indulgence, advising the public to remain calm and to remember to conserve resources for others.

"You shouldn't hoard," Verrochio said. "Take what you need to get you through."

Racetrac on Englewood Road had already run out of gas around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, though a fuel tanker arrived shortly after to refill pump stations.

Wawa manager Storm Van Donselaar said the store gets fuel refills daily, assuring residents who didn't get a chance to fill up over the weekend still have time.

Van Donselaar, who manages the Venice South Tamiami Trail location, said the stress of meeting preparation plans with little notice has caused a rise in impatience with drivers.

Van Donselaar said he had to call police Sunday to calm down an escalated argument between two drivers who had wrecked in the middle of frantic residents trying to find a free pump.

He said there's a difference between preparing and panicking.

"We don't need to be tripping out like this," Van Donselaar said. "If you become panicked, everything's going to go wrong, regardless of what the storm brings."

Among the other popular items sold Sunday were beer and water, Van Donselaar said, items that will only be offered until corporate management decides to shut down for safety reasons.

But contrary to popular belief, when the gas station closes, Van Donselaar said, so does its pumps.

"We can close at a moment's notice," he said.

Carol Shirkey, a 37-year Venice resident, was familiar with the hurricane tradition as she made sure to fill up her generator gas tanks Sunday.

Shirkey said possibly being in Hurricane Milton's direct path has her concerned, but her experience with Hurricane Charley has prepared her for the worst.

As a native Californian, Charlee Filban, Shirkey's partner, said the couple is following local weather to stay informed about the major storm.

With recent thunderstorms, the pair said the chance of flooding continues to rise.

"The rain is what does it every time," Shirkey said. "Right now, the ground is really saturated, so there's nowhere for the rain to go."