VIDEO: Fuel trucks escorted by Hillsborough County deputies amid gas shortage

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (NEXSTAR) — Many Floridians, some just now returning home after evacuating, are working to recover from Hurricane Milton last week.

For some, that means searching for gas as a fuel shortage grips the state . On Saturday, residents in Plant City found themselves waiting in line for hours to fuel up with free gas provided by tanker trucks.

On Sunday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol said, effective immediately, that fuel will only be provided for vehicles and not portable gas tanks.

Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were called in to escort the fuel tankers on their way to fuel stations.

The sheriff’s office shared a video of deputies and tankers lined up for the fuel convoy. Roughly a dozen sheriff’s vehicles can be seen in the video, included at the top of this story, as well as at least four tanker trucks.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Saturday that the state would provide residents 10 free gallons of gas per customer at three distribution sites in Plant City, Bradenton, and St. Petersburg in response to the shortage.

DeSantis also said power outages at the gas stations were to blame for the empty fuel pumps, and that with the ports at Tampa Bay reopening, more fuel should soon be available.

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