Nearly Half Of Triad Stations Out Of Fuel, But More Is On The Way

Fuel outages continue across the Southeast due to consumer response to the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack. That forced a temporary shutdown of the nation's largest fuel pipeline, prompting panic-buying and long lines that quickly wiped out some supplies.

And though gas is on the way, drivers may still have a hard time at the pumps.

The good news is that pipeline operations have resumed, and fuel is making its way to stations. The bad news is it continues to be difficult to find. 

As of around lunchtime Thursday, 68 percent of gas stations across North Carolina are out of gasoline. That's according to GasBuddy, an app that tracks fuel prices and shortages. It's currently number one on the App Store. 

Allison Mac is an analyst with GasBuddy. She says that 43 percent of Triad gas stations are reporting outages. 

“I think a lot of this is emotional and psychological,” says Mac. “So when you know there is fuel coming — sure, not at the rapid pace that it was last week or last month, but it is coming — I think that's going to alleviate a lot of this panic-buying."

The governors of both North Carolina and Virginia have declared states of emergency to help ensure access.

Governor Roy Cooper's office has issued a statement cautioning residents to avoid purchasing gas unless they absolutely need it, and to cut back unnecessary travel until the fuel supply chain returns to normal.

The Colonial Pipeline delivers about 45 percent of the East Coast's fuel. According to government officials and energy analysts, there isn't a gasoline shortage, just delays in delivering the fuel from Gulf Coast refineries.