A.G. Gancarski
It’s not just a “distribution problem” dogging hurricane-harried evacuees trying to escape Milton’s path.
It’s also the luck of the calendar, with people descending on the state as normal to celebrate colonialism.
During a Wednesday morning interview on “Fox and Friends,” CFO Jimmy Patronis noted that more people are in the Sunshine State than normally because they are on vacation from elsewhere.
“You’ve got to remember. This is Columbus Day weekend. This is typically a weekend holiday where the Southeast United States is descending on central Florida for the holidays in order to enjoy it. So there’s more people that had days of vacation plans. So we do have extra people in the state this time because school is out,” Patronis said.
It’s unclear why these revelers would have ignored weather forecasts and stuck around for the historic destruction ahead.
For Columbus Day celebrants and those somewhat more agnostic on the explorer’s legacy, GasBuddy offers tips as to where they might find gas.
The Governor’s Office also notes “Commissioner Wilton Simpson has issued an emergency order suspending requirements related to the distribution, delivery, storage, and sale of liquid fuels — such as gasoline and diesel — to assist with efforts to ensure adequate distribution and supply of fuel.”
The Florida Highway Patrol, per Gov. Ron DeSantis, has been escorting fuel trucks since “lines at gas stations have been long, gas stations are running out quicker than they otherwise would.”
Time is running out, though, for both fuel distribution and evacuation.
Milton is expected to make landfall Wednesday somewhere between the Tampa metropolitan area to the north and Sarasota to the south, before cutting a swath across central Florida before exiting the east coast.
Expect Gov. DeSantis to address fuel further during a 9:30 a.m. storm briefing in Tallahassee.
What are you seeing in gas lines? Let us know in comments or on social media.
7 comments
A Day without MAGA
October 9, 2024 at 7:16 am
Why would people come to Florida in the mist a hurricane, Florida is screwed under it leadership
ScienceBLVR
October 9, 2024 at 7:41 am
Yep, that’s the GOP playbook- always someone else’s fault! No gas Jimmy, Columbus Day’s fault. Debris not picked up, Ronnie says, Landfills not open. Where’s the state guard other Florida workers, oh Ronnie makes it political, sends them to another swing state leaving us in the lurch. Jimmy and Ronnie falsely claim it’s the Dems fault, FEMAs fault- look in the mirror boys the bucks stopped with you and you screwed us
Frankie M.
October 9, 2024 at 10:03 am
I’m surprised he didn’t blame Biden.
Bill Pollard
October 9, 2024 at 10:15 am
People come to Florida a week early for Columbus Day? And I can find some swamp land to sell them, too!
MHDuuuval
October 9, 2024 at 11:00 am
16 states and the territory of American Samoa observe Columbus Day as an official public holiday:
Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia.
This would be a lot of driving for a three-day weekend at Disney.
W Rose
October 9, 2024 at 2:10 pm
Where does this guy come up with this crap? Has he been on the roads at all? There’s been way less traffic all week due to storm forecasts so I can’t imagine that people are flocking to be in this massive, terrifying storm. Blame, deflect, lie…that’s all they’ve got.
MHDuuuval
October 9, 2024 at 2:33 pm
Patronis is a close adherent of DJT and lusts after higher office. Sad.
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