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State Won't Be Out Of Gas In An Emergency

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By JOHN W. ALLMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 12, 2008

Updated: 07/12/2008 12:12 am

TAMPA - If a major hurricane hits Florida this year, causing widespread power outages, fuel will be available at certain gas stations thanks to a year-old state law.

The law, passed in 2006, requires particular fuel terminals and retail stores to be able to operate on emergency power after a storm.

To date, about 1,100 gas stations statewide have upgraded their facilities to use backup generators for at least 72 hours if needed, including 38 stations scattered across Hillsborough County.

TBO.com has posted a database of each gas station in the state that has generator capability. The database is searchable by county, address or station name. Type in the keywords Stations With Generators to search a database of gas stations in Florida that can operate on emergency power after a severe storm.

The law applies to gas stations that meet specific size and location criteria.

Just because the law exists doesn't mean people should take it for granted that gasoline will be available.

Several steps have to occur: An emergency has to be declared, and power has to be lost. The stations affected by the law have 24 hours to power up and begin pumping gas.

"They don't actually have to have a standing generator on the premises," said Terrence McElroy, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. "They have to be equipped to handle a generator."

Circle K, which converted two stores locally, keeps its generators at an off-site location in Hillsborough County. The convenience store chain uses a generator that can hold up to 380 gallons of fuel and run for 18 to 24 hours, said Ari Rothman, manager of brand marketing and advertising.

Gas Availability Not Guaranteed

Still, emergency management officials warn that a number of factors could keep stations from opening quickly.

"A lot of folks think now gas stations have generators, problem solved," said Holley Wade, spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Emergency Management. "Just because a gas station has a generator doesn't mean they're going to have fuel immediately available, because there's no guarantee they haven't sustained significant damage."

Some stations may be flooded or be blocked by fallen trees, Wade said.

Some may not have any gas left, a problem experienced in 2004 and 2005 during the last severe storms.

"At any point in time in the Tampa Bay area, we only have about three days' worth of fuel in the ground," Wade said. "What we saw in 2004 was that gas stations were running out" before the storm even arrived, she said.

Wade recommends that people keep their gas tanks at least half-full throughout the hurricane season to avoid having to fill up days before a storm arrives.

"That keeps more fuel in the ground," she said.

In June 2007, when the law took effect, the state prepared a list of retailers required to upgrade to emergency power. About 55 percent of those businesses were still not generator-ready. As of last week, about 10 gas stations statewide remained in violation.

Those are working to meet the law, McElroy said.

For Hillsborough gas stations, the criteria for the law to apply were those with at least 16 fueling stations that are located within a half-mile of an interstate or state or federal evacuation route.

The law does not explain why legislators stipulated only stations of a certain size.

"I presume what they wanted to do was provide or require the availability of emergency power at the large stations that could accommodate the most number of people," McElroy said.

Smaller, locally owned stations with one or two gas pumps would not be able to serve as many people. And converting a business to operate on emergency power can be expensive - up to $20,000, McElroy said.

The law identified major thoroughfares because highways such as Interstate 275 or Dale Mabry Highway are likely to reopen more quickly after a storm.

"Those are the types of roads that are going to be cleared first, versus the corner gas station at Sligh and Rome," Wade said.

Few Locations Along Interstates

TBO.com has an online map showing where stations can be found locally.

Residents may be surprised at how few there are, particularly along the interstates.

In southwest Hillsborough, there are just two stations listed with emergency power - one in Ruskin off I-75 and another north of Apollo Beach on U.S. 301. The I-275 corridor has only two stations between the Howard Frankland Bridge and Bearss Avenue, and Interstate 4 has none readily accessible between the I-275 junction and U.S. 301.

"It's designed to capture the big stations along the busiest routes," McElroy said. "Does it go far enough? Arguably, no."

But McElroy added, "There are going to be many, many more stations capable of serving consumers during a time of power outages than any time in the past."

Stations that comply with the law aren't required to post signs that they are generator-ready, which could cause people not to know where to go.

Officials said people just need to ask.

"The majority of customers are regular customers. Basically, it's still the neighborhood store," said Jim Smith, president of the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association. "Take the time and find out. It's not secret."

Smith's association has about 5,600 members, many operating gas stations that didn't meet state criteria.

"There are a lot of facilities that are generator-capable that weren't required," he said. "They weren't on the list, but they're there and they're capable of generating power to supply fuel."

Reporter John W. Allman can be reached at (813) 259-7915 or jallman@tampatrib.com.

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