In case there are any of you who don't know yet, I think it's time to talk about Atlanta. There has been what almost amounts to a media blackout on the fuel shortages the city is facing. I know why; we don't need another panic on top of the bailout mess, we don't want people rushing to the pump and decreasing supplies further, and we certainly don't want to talk about gas shortages in an election year. But people have to know anyway.
Is it really a media blackout? Well, a search of Yahoo's and Google's news pages shows nothing until maybe the tenth hit for a simple search for the term "Atlanta," when it should be the top story. CNN is a little bit better, but only because it has this iReport feature, which lets people post their local news and video rants. I watched one of these this morning, wherein a less-than-intelligent woman questioned why the nation wasn't paying attention, and why it was that Houston could get gas, but Atlanta couldn't.
So, for any of you that don't know what's going on, here's a brief list:
- The gulf coast refineries sustained a bit of damage, so supplies are low. Our nation's oil reserves are also very low.
- The southeast region gets its gas off these refineries.
- Houston clearly gets dibs because it's closer. I think last I read production was at half what it normally is.
- Atlanta has basically run out of gas, with most stations completely out and no one sure when the next tanker will arrive
- Cars are lined up down streets and around blocks.
- Gas station attendants have to help direct traffic into pumps
- Any station that gets gas from a delivery truck services as many people in line as it can before it runs out
- Fistfights are breaking out at gas stations
- There is now a policeman stationed at every station that is to get gas
- Drivers are following delivery trucks to stations in order to get into line
I wish I could say I was gleeful about having known this would happen for years, but I'm not. I have family and friends in Atlanta, and I care what happens to them. I don't want anyone to suffer whether I know them or not. I want my friends and family to move out of Atlanta immediately, but haven't had much luck over the past few years convincing them to do so. Last year it was water, this year gas. What's next year: water and gas? So far, my bet on Portland has proven right (or lucky, more like) and I hope it stays as sustainable as I think it is. Portland sure can't sustain the population of Atlanta in the event of a mass exodus, but Portland has to start getting ready for a flood of new people. Once Phoenix's and Las Vegas' water supply starts running out, those people are going to want to move to rainier climes.
Oy. I'm a little sick of my silly doomsday theories coming true. There's nothing I'd like more than to be wrong and have everyone point and laugh. I could stand being humiliated for believing in cockamamie chicken-little theories, but I can't stand seeing my friends and family suffering, stuck in a city that is dying of overpopulation.
Oh, also, I read a story last week about New York City running out of new bikes to sell.
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2 comments:
I have been wondering why there's been no national coverage either, particularly with CNN downtown.
We use a 'boutique blend' of low-sulfur gas that most of the country is not required to use, which is why Atlanta is having more trouble than other places. Consensus is, however, that most of the gas shortage here is self-induced. People are seriously freaking out, and a lot of people are topping up unnecessarily. Good things are happening too though - the buses are standing room only, and there's a big push to add more public transportation. Light rail is in the works.
I will say that I have not seen any police at any filling stations that do not normally have them. I haven't heard about any fights either.
ps - we can't afford to move!
Zoe can't afford to move either. It's making me chew on my fists in anxiety. I wish as much as any person can wish anything that you, Zoe, and my mom and my dad were shut of that place. I know this will get better, but to be replaced with what next year? And yes, I had heard about the low-sulfur thing, and I know this happens after hurricanes. It happened to me when I lived in Virginia. This will end, but to me it's just a flashing neon sign that things are changing in this country and it's time to rethink it. If my sister can't get to work, she's triple screwed by living in Atlanta. We're not even talking about people that have to go the extra mile to pick up kids at daycare.
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