Tampa Bay gas stations are experiencing fuel shortages

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – As the recovery from Hurricane Milton continues in the Tampa Bay area, many people say they are having trouble finding gas.

Fuel is difficult to find not only for cars but also for home generators. But many gas stations have saran wrap around the gas stations and bags covering the pumps.

At a Wawa gas station on State Road 54, a line of vehicles could be seen twisting and turning around the building as drivers waited their turn to get gas.

“I stayed in line for an hour and a half, and this is where I am now,” Tim Bicos said.

Bicos said he traveled far to fill his gas cans.

“I drove 30 miles around and got to Dade City – if you know the Flying J rest stop – and everything is closed,” he said. “No gas nearby.”

People at the station said as soon as word got out that the Wawa had fuel, cars lined up at 6 a.m. Friday

“My friend came here first and just called me to let me know because I was looking all over town,” Tiana Brown said. “I even went to Bruce B. Downs and still didn’t find anything.”

But just finding fuel is a headache as most gas stations are still either closed or out of gas. It increases stress for drivers who run out of fuel.

“It’s stressful because I have to go to trucking school and I have to make sure I have enough gas to get there,” Brown said. “It’s all the way in Tampa.”

And for those who don't have electricity, like Bicos, he said he'll take what he can get – with two gas cans to run his generator for another 20 hours.

“Hopefully they figure it out in the next day or two because otherwise I'll have to drive, I don't know where to get gas,” he said. “Of course I can drive because I have a diesel car so I can walk. But it gets stressful when I have to drive all the way to Ocala or Gainesville to get gas for my generator.”

Spectrum News spoke with the general manager of the Wawa and he said they received a fuel shipment from Jacksonville on Thursday evening and Friday morning. He said 18,000 gallons of fuel were delivered, but gas stations are waiting for Tampa Bay ports to come back online.