I haven't heard any of that, but I think the rest of STT has, as the lines for gas are causing traffic jams cuz the lines are running out into the road....what a mess!

Was a rumor they were closing at 2! I guess the are protesting the freeze that the Commissioner has recommended. Lots of lines out there.

I also heard that Hurricane Bertha delayed a gas-carrying barge...

Rumors are rampant!

Thanks guys 🙂

I wouldn't put much stock in the gas barge thing and Bertha....ours comes from Puerto Rico, which gets it from STX (Hovensa), as I understand it...anyone have any different info about where we get it? I know we don't get it from Hovensa directly, as it's buck cheaper on STX vs. STT!

We didn't run short of gas even after Marilyn, in spite of the run on the gas stations, and everyone needing to fuel their generators, and the lines snaking down the streets. I don't remember not being able to get gas after Hugo, either, but that was 19 years ago. do you remember, RL?

These rumors are self-fulfilling prophesies, makes everyone want to get in line, and thereby causes the problems it is supposed to predict.

The Texaco stations on St Thomas all seem to have stopped pumping gas. The lines are down the street at all the rest of them but the prices haven't gone up (yet). I don't know what is causing the issues but I do recall something in the news about the legislature trying to pass a bill that would control the price of gas. Something about how each station would have to prove how much they paid for the gas that is currently being pumped. They could not raise their prices without permission from the gov. Perhaps the gas companies are simply attempting to provide a lesson in economics. If supply and demand no longer control the price at the pump and if prices continue to go up from the wells than it is no longer economical to provide gas to an area that has a system of oversight in place. Just throwing that out there to provide food for thought. I know that I filled up my car but then again it was nearly empty. I saw a lot of people in line topping off and putting in 2 or 3 gallons but then again that is $10-$12.

No gas at the Domino station:

http://www.on-stjohn.com/

Domino has been closed for a few days. One person told me they heard gas was going to $6 tomorrow? A gas station owner friend says as far as he know they weren't shutting any down.
Yes, we never ran out of gas after Hugo or Marilyn. There were long lines because some stations had no electricity, at least after Hugo. I was working in St John after Marilyn and everything was up and running over there, so I had no problems with ice, food, or gasoline!

It actually might be nice to have some of the traffic and bigger vehicles parked up for a few days - it also might get some drivers to re-evaluate the number of trips and number of passengers they take. $4.50+ a Gallon hasn't seemed to cause any shift in driving habits yet.

Gas is now $3.69 at most stations on STX, no problems, no shortage that I have noticed. Certainly no long lines at stations.

Ok, it's a new day! Am I to panic this morning about gas? Does anyone have a morning update?

Tippi

Turns out there was no gas shortage, only one station missed its last shipment:
http://www.onepaper.com/stthomasvi/?v=d&i=&s=News:Local&p=1212899814

Quite shocking yesterday to see the lines! Couldn't figure out what was going on and KNEW Bertha was not headed for us, so why? Amazing what a rumor can do on an Island! 🙂 I chose NOT to join the crowd and by gas for my car. Life is too short!

Yep, it seems to be over. Weird day!

Now I guess we wait and see how high the prices go on STT/STJ...

Anybody know where the rumor started?

"If you fart on the Northside it'll be smelled on the Southside." That says it all. Within our very small community, gossip and rumour spread in a heartbeat. Any little glitch and it's on the street so who cares where the rumour started. Of course the gas prices will go up. Domino stations ran out of gas once before because of a shipping glitch where an oil barge was concerned. As I recall it was hauled out in PR for safety measures. They were back in business after a week or so.

There is no emergency here, gas is here. Cheers!

Seems it may have started on the East end. Since the Dominoes were closed the Texaco Smith Bay and Tutu were both closed as well for different reasons. Seeing that, people out there may have started talking. Who knows?

Domino opened today at $4.86 for regular.

Now you know the reason for all the craziness and rumors...
Very simple
The stations ran out of big numbers to update the signs! *-)