Gas prices skyrocketed: around Auburn Friday, following the damage Hurricane Ike caused to several oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. JD Schein / PHOTO EDITOR
The arrival of Hurricane Ike led to a gas shortage in Alabama and an increased demand from residents.
As gas prices increased sharply last Friday, cars flooded into gas station parking lots, forming long lines. Drivers hoped to fill up their tanks before the last drops of gasoline disappeared or prices climbed any higher.
The sudden demand for gasoline caused Gov. Bob Riley to declare a state of emergency for Alabama Friday afternoon. Joseph Wilson, a clerk at Eagle Chevron, said the gas station had a busy weekend.
“It’s been since about 3 o’clock on Friday when (the price of gas) started going up,” Wilson said. “There were times when we didn’t have enough (gas) to make it through the day.”
Wilson said the shortage is affecting the station’s business.
“I believe it was Friday when we had people lined up, but we didn’t run out,” Wilson said. “On Saturday we ran out, and we did about 10 times more business on Friday than Saturday.”
The recent gas shortage is also affecting Auburn students. Alex Massingill, a freshman in business, said his filling up his gas tank has become a chore.
“I have to go to three gas stations just to find gas now,” Massingill said. “I ride the transit all the time now.”
Other students are also reconsidering how they travel. Lauren Mykus, a sophomore in interior design, is finding alternate modes of transportation.
“I try to take the transit as much as possible,” Mykus said. “I’m also more mindful of (gas) now. I try to do group trips and that kind of thing.”
Anna Curl, a sophomore in pre-physical therapy, said there are a few positive outcomes of rising gas prices.
“I feel like rising gas prices have caused us to be more conscious of our driving and travel habits,” Curl said. “It’s really inconvenient that (gas) is so expensive, but it encourages carpooling and stuff like that.”
Curl said rising gas prices could be an opportunity for improvement in public transportation. Mykus also supports public transportation.
“I wish we had a mass transportation system like European countries do, because it’s more cost efficient for society as a whole,” Mykus said.
Whether public transportation is the answer, the gas shortage is opening a discussion among Alabama residents about the future of energy and transportation.
