Nearly 8,000 Florida gas stations have no fuel

Close to 8,000 gas stations in Florida are without fuel in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to gas group GasBuddy.

Nearly 30% of gas stations statewide are without fuel, with the Tampa /St. Petersburg area being the most affected at about 77% without.

Areas such as Jacksonville, Miami, Pensacola, and Panama City largely dodged gas shortages, with less than 4% of stations without gas in those areas. The hardest-hit areas include Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers/Naples, and Gainesville.

Gas shortages, especially in the Tampa area, surged when Milton's forecast showed it would hit the city, forcing many residents to flee in their automobiles through backed-up interstates. Some reports indicated that those fleeing were running out of gas as they sat in traffic.

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) amassed fuel in the state before the hurricane hit, but it appears like it wasn't enough, at least for the Tampa area.

“Fuel continues to arrive in the state of Florida by port and what we’re doing to bring it in on the ground,” DeSantis said at a news conference before the storm. “But lines at gas stations have been long. Gas stations are running out quicker than they otherwise would, and so that is causing the state of Florida to help assist with the mission to be able to get fuel to the gas stations so that Floridians have access.”

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A continued fuel shortage in the state will likely hamper the state's recovery and make commuting more difficult for residents. More than 2 million residents don't have power, and the storm could cost a total of $50 billion in damages, President Joe Biden said.

As of 1:32 p.m. on Friday, 7,915 gas stations in Florida are without fuel. According to AAA, the average unleaded gas price on Friday was $3.09 per gallon, about 9 cents lower than a month ago.