# There is a gas panic in San Antonio **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197 "2017-08-31T20:27:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/41 "2017-09-02T17:18:54Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I used sta-bil. I still had to empty my cans into my van and get fresh gas every few months. > > ethanol mixes are the worst. I found a station selling straight unleaded and it stored better. It’s extremely rare to find gasoline without ethenol. I had to go online to find one. It’s mostly locations serving fuel for boat engines. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/42 "2017-09-02T17:22:44Z")
People are parking in front of empty pumps and the stations are having the cars towed away. Shortage to last until beginning of next week. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/43 "2017-09-02T17:27:20Z")
So, how is Uber surge pricing in Texas this weekend? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/44 "2017-09-02T17:27:52Z")
Releasing a portion of the strategic reserve probably will help. Not because more crude would be useful for anything, but because it _sounds_ like it would help, and so would decrease the panic, which is the real problem to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/45 "2017-09-02T17:29:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Releasing a portion of the strategic reserve probably will help. Not because more crude would be useful for anything, but because it _sounds_ like it would help, and so would decrease the panic, which is the real problem to begin with. They should also release some of the strategic reserve of Valium. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/46 "2017-09-02T17:31:57Z")
Supplies of alcohol are still holding steady. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/47 "2017-09-02T19:07:26Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It’s extremely rare to find gasoline without ethenol. I had to go online to find one. It’s mostly locations serving fuel for boat engines. It’s like that here too. I had to search for a place that sells unleaded without ethanol. It’s worth it if you plan to store the gas. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/48 "2017-09-02T21:33:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > How do you store a 100 gallons and not have it go bad? I cycle it through my toys. It’s “renewed” every few months. > [@JohnT](#): > > Supplies of alcohol are still holding steady. They’ve closed down at least one brewery (changed it over to can fresh water). Taking breweries offline seems risky. I wonder about the wisdom of allowing the state with the largest fleet of armed pickups to run out of beer on Labor Day weekend. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/49 "2017-09-03T02:26:23Z")
The gas panic seems to have made it’s way to Houston (well, the northern suburbs and Conroe, at least). Most pumps seem to be closed, although I did find one station with only premium left. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/50 "2017-09-03T03:02:58Z")
Houston and surrounding areas shouldn’t take too much of a hit because we can always import gasoline for shortages. And that’s the only real problem. We survived prices well over $3/gallon for extended periods of time. It would be nice if the next hurricane stays out of the Gulf so ships can get in. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/51 "2017-09-03T14:15:09Z")
Whoo-hoo! Just got gas. Got the double bonus of doing so while wife and daughter were in church. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/52 "2017-09-03T17:08:39Z")
Also in SA, managed to get gas today. Had to search a little to find an open gas station waited in line about 20 minutes. Not the worst struggle ever or anything but not the best situation either. I’m concerned that the gas hoarders will just keep on topping off their tanks and filling up extra gas cans for the foreseeable future. I am middle aged but still too young to remember the gas crisis of the 1970s. This has never happened to me before! Gasp! :o It is kind of scary but trying not to panic. Between what is going on politically and seeing how people are acting like big panicky babies over gas after this hurricane, I have never been more disappointed in human nature. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/53 "2017-09-03T19:36:43Z")
So, 3/4 of the gas stations (it is being reported, though it feels higher) have no gasoline and those that do are selling it at prices that are only $.50 higher than pre-panic. And for those, the lines for gas run a mile deep. So I proposed the GOP-approved, libertarian-friendly free market solution on FB and started calling for $20/gal gas, or more, up to where a price point is achieved which breaks the gas lines and lowers demand by suppressing driving. I don’t expect many people to join me in my crusade, though, progressive _or_ conservative. Funny, that. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/54 "2017-09-03T19:40:56Z")
I dunno if you guys have any costcos, or if you are members of same, but they should be worth looking into. Up here in Ohio, when Ike came through and knocked out the power and dropped trees on all the roads, just about every gas station was out, or was charging ridiculous prices, with long lines. Costco’s pumps were full, and at the typical pe-storm price, there were 2 other cars there for 6 pumps when I went. This may not hold true at all down there, but I would think it’s worth checking on if you have not. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/55 "2017-09-03T19:43:10Z")
Any stories of mishaps due to people putting gas in improvised containers? So far I’ve seen pictures of people using 5 gallon water jugs and trash cans. The guy with the trash cans had two large (55 gal?) trash cans in the back of his pickup and he was filling them up with gas. I was just imagining how much gas sloshed around the bed of his pickup as he drove home. Seems like recipes for disaster. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/56 "2017-09-03T19:51:54Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Any stories of mishaps due to people putting gas in improvised containers? So far I’ve seen pictures of people using 5 gallon water jugs and trash cans. The guy with the trash cans had two large (55 gal?) trash cans in the back of his pickup and he was filling them up with gas. I was just imagining how much gas sloshed around the bed of his pickup as he drove home. Seems like recipes for disaster. I’d be concerned about it melting through them as well. Gasoline is a pretty powerful solvent that tends to dissolve plastics not formulated to resist it. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/57 "2017-09-03T19:58:33Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So I proposed the GOP-approved, libertarian-friendly free market solution on FB and started calling for $20/gal gas, or more, up to where a price point is achieved which breaks the gas lines and lowers demand by suppressing driving. > > I don’t expect many people to join me in my crusade, though, progressive _or_ conservative. Funny, that. People remember things like this. So if Joe’s Gas rips me off in this crisis situation, when the crisis is over Joe’s Gas is the last place I will purchase from. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/58 "2017-09-03T20:16:09Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > So, 3/4 of the gas stations (it is being reported, though it feels higher) have no gasoline and those that do are selling it at prices that are only $.50 higher than pre-panic. And for those, the lines for gas run a mile deep. From [gasbuddy.com](http://gasbuddy.com) it looks like less than half in SA have no gas. With prices looking to average about $2.5. And it seems to be a San Antonio thing. Austin and Dallas (again, [gasbuddy.com](http://gasbuddy.com)) look like 90%+ stations have gas, and in Houston it seems like the only stations that don’t have gas are in flooded areas. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/59 "2017-09-03T21:25:00Z")
I’ve still got just over half a tank, so I’m going to wait until I’m down to about a quarter before I go searching. Any word as to how long this is going to be a thing? I’m not too concerned with having to pay more for gas (don’t love it, but it’s doable), but I’m really anxious about the prospect of having to go hunt it down, wasting gas in the process. Also, since I’m home some days during the week and my sister isn’t, I’m going to be responsible for finding gas for both of us. If Dallas and Austin and Houston all have gas now, why don’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197/60 "2017-09-03T23:21:47Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > And it seems to be a San Antonio thing. Austin and Dallas (again, [gasbuddy.com](http://gasbuddy.com)) look like 90%+ stations have gas, and in Houston it seems like the only stations that don’t have gas are in flooded areas. Gotta love SA - not. I hate it here and this just adds to my negativity about it. The hoarding is unbelievably tacky and thoughtless. > [@Small\_Hen](#): > > I’ve still got just over half a tank, so I’m going to wait until I’m down to about a quarter before I go searching. Any word as to how long this is going to be a thing? I’m not too concerned with having to pay more for gas (don’t love it, but it’s doable), but I’m really anxious about the prospect of having to go hunt it down, wasting gas in the process. Also, since I’m home some days during the week and my sister isn’t, I’m going to be responsible for finding gas for both of us. > > If Dallas and Austin and Houston all have gas now, why don’t we? I can’t seem to find any reports that indicate how long this might go on. “They” are probably afraid to report on it too much in case it ramps the panic up even more. I’m hoping it will get better sometime next week but that’s just speculation. Maybe once Labor Day is over, along with the potential extra car travel, things will settle down and the Chicken Littles will see that the sky is not falling. I hope? I actually have Labor Day off and am not going anywhere so that will save me the 40 mile round trip commute and attendant gas consumption for one day, at least. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-a-gas-panic-in-san-antonio/795197.md?page=4)