ALERT! All DC-Area Gas Stations Closed at 4PM Today! Will Reopen Tuesday!

[On the Road]

Half an hour ago, a coworker dropped by my desk and told me. I thought it had to be an urban legend, but she said she confirmed it with a local gas station.

So I left work and dropped by the nearby Exxon. Regular was $3.49 a gallon (up from $2.70 two days ago) and there were a few cars waiting. The cashier confirmed the story and said that it had been on local news flashes. No idea how wide an area it covers.

Again, I don't know who ordered this or what geographic area it covers. Would appreciate any comments about other geographic areas.

----------------

I cannot believe this -- thousands of people are just leaving for the shore. Many will either have to turn back or stay until Tuesday to refill. People are going to lose hundreds of dollars on hotel rooms they couldn't occupy and businesses at the shore are going to suffer big-time over lost Labor Day revenues. More and more people are going to become furious with Bush over sandbagging the population like this.

Note: I think this is an appropriate LBN item even though it's a second-hand account of TV news. It can be moved if not appropriate.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

1. Well it is afer 4 already, so who in DC has seen closed stations? n/t

[Redstone]

2. Sounds like a rumor to me. Would be good to hear confirmation, but I bet

there won't be any.

Why would the city government order the stations to close? Furthermore, I don't think they have the authority to do that.

Redstone

[On the Road]

7. I Wouldn't Have Thought So, Either

and I wouldn't have posted based on a rumor.

TWO gas stations in Silver Spring MD (one of them the Exxon on Randolf and Columbuia Pike) confirmed that they were closing at 4PM. I don't know how to account for that if it's an urban legend.

[GrapesOfWrath]

3. Md. Governor: Rumors Of Gas Stations Closing Untrue

Not true according to local NBC4 Washington DC report.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/4930686/detail.html

[On the Road]

9. Apparently You're Right

Now I feel like an idiot. But there are at least two gas stations in suburban Maryland who are telling their customers this. I still don't know how to account for that.

[faithnotgreed]

12. ribo its not too late to edit - perhaps restate as a question

or relay that 2 maryland stations have said this or....

thanks

[sarcasmo]

4. Running out of fuel here in Michigan at Detroit stations.

I would believe this story. The tension just begins to mount all over the Country.

[JVS]

5. That seems fucked up that bush said "don't buy gas if you don't need to"

and now, if you were one listened, you can't get gas for for 3 days.

[northzax]

6. that would be collusion and illegal

if there was an agreed upon closing time, and they all closed, they'd be in jail by midnight.

[On the Road]

8. It Would Really Depend on the Circumstances

There are all sorts of situations under which it could happen.

[northzax]

13. only mandated by the government

and it would have to be federal, since three jurisdictions are involved.

otherwise it is interstate collusion, in a time of emergency. that is a federal felony.

[LostinVA]

18. Agreed -- the government would have to order them closed

Doing it together is breaking Federal law big time.

[soothsayer]

10. Totally FALSE rumor according to WTOP news website

It's Only a Rumor: Gas Stations Not Set to Close
Updated: Friday, Sep. 2, 2005 - 3:42 PM

WASHINGTON - WTOP Radio is getting calls from many listeners who have heard rumors that gas stations will be closing early today.

"This rumor is completely false," said Katie Le-Han, with the Maryland Governor's office of Homeland Security.
<snip>

more http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=562697&nid=25

edited to add word FALSE in subject line

[Eloriel]

11. wtf is going on -- this has been moved 4 times, by my count

started out in LBN (that's one), then to these THREE different GD threads:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4587984

then:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4587983

then: here.

[never_get_over_it]

14. Is it MD and NOVA

too or just DC?

[soothsayer]

15. NONE! Not even DC! TOTALLY FALSE RUMOR!!! See above

[Ready4Change]

16. Yah, but sure created lines in a hurry.

I went out to run an errand. No closed stations. BUT, every single station had a line.

First I heard of this was Gov. Enrlich saying rumors weren't true. In fact, I've not heard a thing on radio or on TV except Erhlich saying the rumors aren't true.

The fact that he says this, and everyone rushes to gas up, says MOUNTAINS about peoples faith in Erhlichs word, dontcha think?

(At this time the ONLY place I've seen the rumors themselves are here on DU. I live in MD.)

[greyl]

17. I heard similar about VA stations closing at 3:00

From a co-worker who was told by a VA State Trooper.
As of 4:30, the 5 stations I passed appeared to be open, one was out of anything but 93octane.

It looks like we should be extra skeptical during these times. ;)

The DU Skeptics Group

[LostinVA]

19. Maybe people are saying this to create more business & up prices

Which is also breaking Federal law big time...

[Chalco]

20. Downtown Rockville. Exxon CLOSED--out of gas,

Another station--lines around the block 3.29/gallon, Crown 3.69/gallon.

[joanski0]

21. Gov. Rendell - PA said on the radio

this morning that there is NO gas shortage in PA. He said do not go out and line up 90 cars deep for gas. There is no shortage. That was very comforting to hear.