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30 Pictures That Show Americans Freaking Out Over The ‘Gas Shortage’ They Pretty Much Created By Themselves
A cyber attack has crippled a major pipeline in the US. The administration of US President Joe Biden projected that the Colonial Pipeline, source of nearly half the fuel supply on the East Coast, would restart in a few days and urged drivers not to top up their tanks.
"We are asking people not to hoard," U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told reporters at the White House. "Things will be back to normal soon."
Care to guess what everyone did? Even though government and industry officials said the nation had plenty of fuel and the pipeline was set to resume operations shortly, nervous drivers clogged gas stations and created shortages in parts of or all 11 states.
At least 12,000 gas stations reported being completely empty, and the squeeze pushed the price of a gallon past $3—the highest it has been since 2014. It's the toilet paper frenzy all over again.
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#1
Gas Shortage
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
Doesn't petrol eat through those plastics, like why they have the "no unapproved containers" signs on pumps ? Even if not...the fumes, the skin burns and fire risk is, well. I just can't explain how confused I am by using a bag of all things, to keep petrol in your home.
RELATED:
#2
Gas Shortage? Christianburg Sign War To The Rescue
#3
Do Not Be This Person
Many of these shortages have been caused by people's irresponsible hoarding. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, for example, told CNN on Wednesday that panic buying caused a gas supply problem in his state. With about 70% of Charlotte's gas stations out of fuel and price gouging complaints piling up across the state, Cooper said that they are working on multiple fronts to mitigate the problems at hand.
"I want this gas supply problem fixed as quickly as possible, and we are working with the local and federal officials, and the company to get that done. I have declared a state of emergency which would allow the transportation waivers for more trucks and heavier trucks to come into the state to bring gas, and we have a waiver from the EPA to increase the amount of fuel coming in," Cooper stated.
#4
Events Can Cause A Slow Down, People Cause A Shortage
#5
The Bag Is On The Pump Because Its Out Of Service. She Isn’t Getting Anything
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
It would be even funnier if the pump was running and charging her, but no gas was coming out of it. Regardless, if she’d look up from her phone fir a few seconds, she might notice that it was out of order.
#6
Better Pick Up A Couple Extra Bags
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
What alarms me is the plastic bag in foreground on left.... did she already drop one?
The federal government, meanwhile, has loosened rules to make it easier for suppliers to refill storage, including lifting seasonal anti-smog requirements for gasoline and allowing fuel truckers to work longer hours.
CNN also reported that ransomware hackers demanded nearly $5 million from Colonial Pipeline, according to two sources familiar with the incident. But at this point, the company has not paid the ransom.
Colonial Pipeline restarted operations about 5 p.m. ET, the company said in a statement.
"Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal. Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during the start-up period. Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal," the company said.
#7
The Stupidity Has Begun
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
TBH, since gasoline can be put in a glass bottle with a rag stuffed in the top, gas hoarders could actually end up on that watchlist. Especially if they also have a history and/or connection to far right wing groups.
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Vasana Phong 3 years ago
Ahh it was only a year ago they were filling up their trunks with toilet paper
Sue Clifford 3 years ago
This makes me very angry but “stupid is as stupid does” which is very obvious here.
Linda Bartlett 3 years ago
I believe this IS the same lady in the town next to mine that hoarded tp last year. Shame on you!
Christine Temple 3 years ago
At least they are in plastic jerry cans. I'll bet he bought out Walmarts.
Paige Garberding 3 years ago
Are those the people who blew themselves up? Looks like the setup described. Too stupid to live.
Thomas Biorogue 3 years ago
Maybe they have a lot of grass to cut. A LOT. Nah, they're morons.
Calypso poet 3 years ago
You were that show! That episode was the first thing I thought of when all this started!
#8
This What Y’all Doing Now, Out Here Hoarding Resources
#9
Big Plastic Bins
Colonial first announced it became a victim of the cyber-attack late last week, prompting a shutdown of operations into Wednesday. An interagency working group, with the Energy Department serving as lead agency, was assembled over the weekend, and officials assessed "multiple contingencies" in the event of a prolonged shutdown and decreased fuel supplies nationwide.
President Biden previewed the decision in remarks on Wednesday. Talking to reporters, he said: "We have been in very, very close contact with Colonial Pipeline, which is the one area you're talking about, where that's one of the reasons that gas prices are going up. And I think you're gonna hear some good news in the next 24 hours. And I think we'll be getting that under control."
#10
They Fill Up Jacuzzi-Sized Containers With Gas
Full of Giggles 3 years ago
I’m not sure this is a selfish hoarding. That type of container is commonly used on farms. He could be getting extra gasoline to keep his farming equipment running during the 5 day period.
#11
Gas Shortage
#12
It's Been Truly Chaotic
Bobert Robertson 3 years ago
Those aren't even new jerry cans save maybe 1 or two of them. This guy has been waiting for this moment his whole life. Probably has a bunker full of guns and canned beans waiting for the end of the world
#13
We’ve Received Calls Into The Weartv Newsroom About This Gas Station In Escambia County Selling Regular Gas For $4.29/Gallon
Within a minute of our news car showing up, it was dropped to $3.29
#14
Gas Shortage
#15
Gas Shortage
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
I bet people with electric cars are laughing their asses off at all this.
#16
Every Single Canister
#17
Another Idiot Filling Up...
Gregg V 3 years ago
LIBTARDS wondering why is gas missing? I voted for Biden and the cancelled pipeline and being energy dependent again from our friends in Russia, China and the Middle East when Trump made us independent and rich.... libtard thinking - more for energy, more for gas, more for heating... and hyperinflation hurting everyone - dumbtards.
#18
Methodically Make The Shortage Even Shorter
#19
Idiot In Va. Stopped At The Light And Smelled Gas To My Left. Put My Windows Up Quick.
#20
People Stockpiling Gasoline And Creating An Unnecessary Shortage
#21
There Have Been Lines At One In The Morning
#22
Demand Has Caused Prices To Skyrocket
#23
Gas Shortage
#24
Towing Giant Barrels Of Gas Behind Their Truck
#25
Pumps Have Been Closed
#26
Viewing Gas Shortages As An Opportunity To Sell Gas For $16/Gallon (Nc).
#27
People Are Hoarding So Much Gas They Can't Fit It In Their Tiny Car
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Then how did they get the containers there in the first place? They don’t expand when full, but just get much heavier, so even though they may weigh it down, they should fit back inside the car. My greater worry is about the driver and the fumes.
#28
Gas Shortage
#29
Filling A 100 Gallon Tank During A Gas Shortage
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Since 9/11 in the US, and even since 1995 OK City bombing, that much fuel at once is a red flag to the ATF, FBI, et al. Which basically means a lot of these people just got put on a watchlist, for gas they won't even be able to use, and will try to sell, and then end up in prison and I'm really okay with that. I really am. .... Signed, saw this in the 1970s, that was an actual shortage
Laugh or not 3 years ago
I am really surprised they were able to fill so many containers. In France, you can only fill the car reservoir. It is allowed to have a 20L jerrycan at home for mower or other appliances, or to transport in a 5L jerrycan for emergencies.
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A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
I live in the South. By what I'm sure is 100% sheer coincidence, the vast majority of the people in my area who refuse to wear masks or get vaccinated look awfully similar to the people in these pictures. Again, I'm sure there's no connection in mentalities whatsoever. None.
Load More Replies... COCO puff 3 years ago
In most contries you can't fill cans, plastic bins with fuel. Its illegal to do that, because of the safety hazards.
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
It is illegal to do that in the US as well - the people shown doing that are breaking the law.
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I Liquored On 3 years ago
No wonder tRump loved the uneducated. Look how easily scared and influenced they are.
Robert Thompson 3 years ago
Not a single Trump sticker on any of the cars/trucks. Trump people are a proud people. It is Biden's people that won't tell you whom they voted for.
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Don't Look 3 years ago
If I was down there right now (parents live in western NC) I’d go up to each of these fat f***s with my camera going and ask them how they feel about endangering people’s lives. My dad is 86 and just had a triple bypass. He’s got kidney disease. This means that he has to be able to get to the hospital fairly easily (he was actually rushed to the ER three times in the last month). He’s never done anything to hurt anyone including hoarding. There are thousands of people like him all over the place. But do these people care? No. Why? Because they’re disgusting greedy fat assholes.
Rob Woodman 3 years ago
If he needs to be rushed to the hospital he’s better off calling an ambulance anyway. But keep on with the fat shaming. You seem very enlightened.
Load More Replies... Logic and Reason 3 years ago
Despite the (perhaps deliberately) extremely misleading title, we did not make this shortage. It was a ransomware attack, according to the most recent information I could find. Fix the title and stop deceiving your readers. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/business/live-news/us-gas-demand-05-12-21/index.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5035713001
Katchen 3 years ago
Thank you! And considering many of these people live in states where the ruling party’s answer to public woes is that people need to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” they’re getting boot-strappy. They likely assume the cyber attack won’t be resolved any time soon, and since they have at-will employment, they may be fired if they don’t have enough gas to drive themselves to work. No public transit in rural areas.
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K Witmer 3 years ago
The shortage is already over. Biden said it would only take a week and to not panic. Only red states act like this. Trumpers are the most selfish and the most easily triggered. It's so weird they talk about everything they hate all the time and they don't even realize they're completely talking about themselves. They are not self aware in the slightest. Projection is crazy. I want to know how they keep their children alive being that stupid??
Rob Woodman 3 years ago
He said that after Colonial paid the hackers $5million.
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Sleepyhead 3 years ago
"America First" doesn't seem as accurate as "Me First". I would like to find a new country, if anyone wouldn't mind.
LittleMissLotus 3 years ago
Do these people have any idea what's going to happen to them if they go anywhere within 15 feet of an open flame within a few days after doing this.....?
Kitty Luna Darrow 3 years ago
What's next? Oh, housing shortage due to godsdamn explosions and house fires!
TheReader19 3 years ago
Why is there not a policy in place to a dollar limit and in the car only no cans
Sinkvenice 3 years ago
Why are stations actually selling this much to people?? There should be a maximum spend so this stupidity wouldn't happen. Who the hell authorises the sale of plastic bags full of petrol??
BlahBlahBlackSheepah 3 years ago
If it's supposed to effect the whole east coast why is only the south east freaking out?
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
Gluttony is one of the 7 deadly sins and is a umbrella to catch all of these behaviors.
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Cip IESAN 3 years ago
Watching this pics I remembered the 1980's Romania... Only 20 liters (5.2 gallons) per month and people usually kept all the gasoline cans on the balcony or even in the bathrooms (there were apartments without balcony) "for urgent needs" or for vacations. Sometimes, gasoline stored in plastic cans started big fires. I remember my father found in my grandfather's attic two metal canisters from the WWII, which belonged to the Wehrmacht (with the eagle stamped on them) and he filled them too...
•LeXi• 3 years ago
Why are the gas stations even allowing this to happen. I know that some limiting them but most aren't. All I have to say, is, when things like this happens in our country, they show their true colors. When things are fine, ppl are like robots and acts fine but then when crisis happens, instead of working together, people get f****n stupid!!
Roadkill The Brave 3 years ago
I am not condoning most of this. The plastic bags, totes, etc, are stupid and dangerous. I especially dislike Mr. 18 bucks a gallon and the gougers. However the fuel barrels and water tanks they're filling in several isn't hording, that's most likely for farming or cattle guys. Also we didn't cause the shortage, the shortage was a cyber attack, the panic was onset due to the attack.
Sky Render 3 years ago
I am amazed that so few gas stations are responding the way they did back during the 1970s oil crisis. Back then you could be fined for "topping the tank", and filling jerry cans was forbidden. You would never be able to get away with the crap shown in these photos anywhere...
AzKhaleesi 3 years ago
This is so ridiculous. I absolutely hate human beings. I wish the world would just end already. This is like the TP shortage last year and what happened? All you dumb f***s ended up with a lifetime supply of TP that's it! I hope to God that all that gas you're hoarding either A) Goes bad so you can't use it and you wasted all that money or B) blows up in your garage while you're out joy riding "just cuz you can" (I want you out of the house because unlike you I'm not an asshole and don't want you to die)
neonn_pieee 3 years ago
I hear ya. I hate human beings as well. Sure there are some good ones out there but every day I literally hate humans more and more. I literally can't stand it. That's why I literally just stick to my doggos and SO :)
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CatWoman312 3 years ago
I had to get gas on Tuesday when all this started because I had to commute out of town for a funeral. Thankfully the sheetz I went to was full of decent human beings who just filled their tank, not tanks. People are so obnoxiously disgusting and greedy
Soggy Crumpet 3 years ago
This is more Anti-US propaganda from BP as this represents about a couple dozen people in the nation. I live in Florida where the “shortage” is real and there is no panic going on. Thanks yet again BP for being so quick to spread more hate.
Monika Rhodes 3 years ago
How is this hate? It's happening un us hence the article. You think BP is spreading hate? Maybe look inside your own country and see how people treat each other. Not to mention what orange turn done to usa..
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Paradise 3 years ago
Shows how much we value our cars, even when many work at home. I luckily now live a 30 second walk to work, husband WFH so I dont need much gas, but so many have to for their jobs, etc. We rely so much on gas and cars. I remember visiting Virginia years ago and there was a gas shortage then, too.
Dippin Dot 3 years ago
This happened in 2001 when Hurricane Iris closed down production for a bit. People obviously don’t remember that it was fixed in days.
Nadya Raymond 3 years ago
Non American here... why R people doing this? Is there an apocalypse coming that we don't know about?
Mike Weber 3 years ago
Was anyone else reminded of a certain ep of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia? 😀
Elizabeth Wilkins 3 years ago
I was hoping to see the picture of the lady trying to fill up a laundry basket. The kind with holes....
Voodoo Child 3 years ago
The scary thing is these idiots have a driver's license & the right to vote. No wonder our country is so f-ed up & the rest of the world thinks we're stupid. Selfish, narcissistic aholes :/
A Head 3 years ago
Hoarding is not cool; price gouging - not cool either. But I will say that gasoline is a commodity. You don't sell it for what you paid for it, you sell it for what the replacement cost is estimated to be, which is why you see prices go up immediately after some sort of crises is announced on the news. Most gas stations in the US make very little (like $0.02 per gallon) on the gas they sell. They make money on cigarettes, and $2.00 bottles of Diet Coke and tiny bags of Doritos.
El Dee 3 years ago
There's no shortage, do not hoard - immediately decide to hoard. Lesson - don't tell the public not to hoard, it's pointless and in fact makes them do it. But why are the petrol stations allowing this. Here you can only fill into an approved container for safety reasons. So either fill your tank or a MAX two gallon (imperial, not American - that's about 10l) petrol can (specifically designed and approved) When this has happened here it tends to be less of a worry
Leodavinci 3 years ago
A shortage started as soon as they shut down the pipeline... which was before most people even heard about the shortage and before some people started doing these things. Also, as has been reported many places, a lot of retailers were out of gas before any of this started happening. It wasn't these people who caused a shortage. I get several tech email newsletters and the ransomware attack (that caused the pipeline shutdown) was reported nearly a week before. I didn't associate that with the gas shortage until later, but it appears many people made a connection (ransomware attack/pipeline shutdown/gas shortage) I missed.
Hannah Edwards 3 years ago
When we had a fuel shortage in the UK some taxi driver in Derby filled wheelie bins with petrol in his cellar. The fire brigade had to evacuate the whole street to deal with it.
Shane S 3 years ago
What is with Panda lately? So many anti-American articles lately. I get it. We aren’t perfect. We got issues. I think almost every other country does too. The issues just vary. Sheesh.
Mark and Elmo 3 years ago
The fact that Bored Panda was built in America. You don't have to do that Shane.
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Steve 3 years ago
Makes me wish Covid was 1,000 times more lethal, then all these idiots would be dead
Debbie 3 years ago
I don't think their actions are right. I think the prices of gas were too low anyway, on the other hand, labour laws and wages are terrible. And people can't just not show up for work because they had no gas. Some people really DO need it to keep their jobs. I guess here in the Netherlands if there ever would be a gas shortage it would be not that big of a deal, no/less risk of losing your job for not being able to show up. And: Public transport is ok (lots of electric transport), Distances are usually shorter, more people have a bike, working from home is more allowed.. ofcourse hoarders will be hoarders.
Mark and Elmo 3 years ago
So they can die and make the gas get ever shorter than before.
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jk nbt 3 years ago
Also know that as little as 2% by volume of water mixed into gasoline will crack a piston or an engine block. Water is non-compressible & does not burn. If there is any water left in the container when you fill it with gasoline, it will go to the bottom & be undetectable. If you wreck the engine on a new car & claim warranty, the dealer will drain your gas tank & send the contents off for analysis. If they find any water, they will void the warranty. It costs $10,000 to replace an engine. Also, gasoline is a desiccant. It will literally suck the water vapor out of the air and mix it in.
Rick Seiden 3 years ago
The lines remind me of the 70's crisis. Some places only let you buy gas on even days if your license plate ended in an even number, and the same on odd. There were shootings in the lines. It was crazy. The pipeline is going to open and will be back to normal within a week. We'll be OK, people.
Caroline Nagel 3 years ago
I looked up the shelf life of gas: in an airtight metal container it can last for several years; in a plastic container - like most people seemed to use in this thread - it has a shelf life of a few months on the condition its kept airtight and in a dry place.
Sofiia Melnikova 3 years ago
with every image my hope for this country was tickling down the drain...
Nudge 3 years ago
there was a brief gas shortage in Texas a while back because of Hurricane Harvey, but it only lasted a few days. This seems a lot worse 😬
Logic and Reason 3 years ago
Hopefully, this will make people think about buying electric vehicles more seriously.
Steve Barnett 3 years ago
# SPOILER ALERT # Anyone else remember the scenario in Breaking Bad where Jesse thinks he’s being smart by dissolving a body in a bath tub? Yep, all this rolled into one.
Alan Green 3 years ago
And to think, once here in UK i tried to fill 1 x 20L metal jerrycan but the station refused to turn on the pump because it's illegal to use metal jerrycans over 10L and you can only have 2 of those or you're breaking the law. Plastic cans are limited to 5L.
J. Normal 3 years ago
I was feeling "guilty" because I want to go and fill my car's gas tank (do not drive much anymore) I was happy we just filled the lawn mower. I lived through the 70's... What I have noticed... all of these "shortages" are and will be made by the corporations, on purpose to drive up the prices. I expect to continue to see prices skyrocket, and wages to remain the same... after a few years they will raise the min wage... but NOTHING will be different. With the corporate inflation, the living standard will not change... raise wages - corporations will raise prices to make it less than insignificant. (aka complain and we will give you something to complain about!) The corporations in America CONTROL us... The consumers have no rights nor considerations by the $$$... it is THEIR money and we need to give it back to them with no questions asked. Paying you a penny for a day's labor is not slavery.
soni w 3 years ago
And while everyone's attention is diverted on this behaviour, a sneaky handshake deal goes ahead under a table somewhere and contracts are signed and land is stolen for pipelines and corps reap and reel and steal at consumer greed and stupidity. It's all just a basic marketing ploy of supply and demand and the typical human overreaction to not having what they demand.
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Bella, Your Kitty-Loving Queen 3 years ago
A lot of these people have gasoline in unsecured tanks- I DONT LIKE THAT!!!
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
This crap is all happening down South in the mask-refusing, COVID-denying, anti-vaxxer Trump states. Big surprise.
Teresa Taylor 3 years ago
I looked at these photos and (I am ashamed to admit) thought, "where's that litterbug smoker when you need them. All that gas would make a damned fine BOOM and blaze going down the interstate. Wouldn't that be a sight to behold?" Yes. These are terrible thoughts, and I am ashamed they popped into my head, but, when you hoard gas like this you are jeopardizing your life (and others) while transporting and storing it. I'm just waiting for the newsreels.
Dhukath 3 years ago
Pandemic panic = toilet ro'll stockpiling, fuel pipeline hacking = petrol hoarding, alien life discovered = this is why they don't tell us about things!
WhoAreYouToSayPandasAreBored 3 years ago
You are mistaken. This is EXACTLY why they tell us things.. look at the prices! They are profiting off of all of it!!!
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RatherLoopy 3 years ago (edited)
Right... tell Americans not to hoard. That worked so well for toilet paper... and hand sanitizer... and bottled water... and canned goods... and rice... and beans... Years back, a friend pointed out that I hated people, and I protested. Now I'm ready to own it... people stink.
Mark Howell 3 years ago
When the zombie appocalypse begins, they'll starve over there, no brains to eat ;o)
Kristin Ingersoll 3 years ago
Took this yesterday. In Virginia. Where a state of emergency has been declared. Wanna bet he also refuses to wear a mask??? (He was wearing his FedEx uniform, too. Classy.) gas1-609d7...34abb9.jpg 
VeninTheNonBinaryRogue 3 years ago
These people are so selfish. There are people who actually need it for important things.
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Maybe some of these people are the ones who need it for important things. Compactors, generators, water pumps, air compressors, power screeds, power trowels, cement mixers, concrete saws, etc. Don't run on hopes and prayers, they run on gasoline. If I were a site manager and had the choice of paying 20 guys to fiddle around with shovels all day or obtain the fuel necessary for them to do their jobs efficiently, I know which choice I would make.
Load More Replies... jk nbt 3 years ago
ALL OF THESE POSTS DEPICT WILDLY UNSAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE. ONE MISTAKE WILL KILL YOU OR BURN UP YOUR HOUSE. All gasoline should only be stored in an approved glass or metal container. Gasoline is a powerful solvent that will dissolve many/most types of plastic. A slow leak of gasoline in your garage can burn your house down, so only store it outside in a metal building. The vapors from a slow leak can be ignited by the gas flame water heater in the garage turning on. The flash will ignite the source of the leak. All of these pictures depict wildly unsafe handling of gasoline.
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Um, at least in the US, red plastic gasoline cans are the norm, and are perfectly safe. Metal safety cans are absolutely better, but at 4-5x the price, they are much less common. The yellow (diesel) and blue (kerosene) cans are made of the exact same material and are just color-coded for which fuel they (should) contain.
Load More Replies... Mark and Elmo 3 years ago (edited)
And just like that, you are also one of those people that make the gas shortage cut down even more. I hope this artical has an empty spot for you to be in. Even if you are saying it on porpose just to get a reaction or not, go f*** off, Bill.
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Mark and Elmo 3 years ago
So your saying that you can do better then 328.2 million people in the U.S?
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M O'Connell 3 years ago
Where you see "sloppy" I largely see "work clothes." If your business depends on having fuel for your equipment, and delivery to your jobsite has been cancelled due to supplier shortage, you're going to do what you need to do. And you probably won't be wearing your Sunday-best.
Load More Replies... Monika Rhodes 3 years ago
It wasn't a cyber attack, it was us who shut down pipeline.
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WhoAreYouToSayPandasAreBored 3 years ago
I also live in Pennsylvania and gas was $3.10/gallon last I filled up.
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Logic and Reason 3 years ago
Yes, you’re sooo much better than other people. Why didn’t I think about walking before? So glad I now have the knowledge to know I can just walk halfway across the country to see my family. Thank you for enlightening me.
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Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Since 9/11 in the US, and even since 1995 OK City bombing, that much fuel at once is a red flag to the ATF, FBI, et al. Which basically means a lot of these people just got put on a watchlist, for gas they won't even be able to use, and will try to sell, and then end up in prison and I'm really okay with that. I really am. .... Signed, saw this in the 1970s, that was an actual shortage
Laugh or not 3 years ago
I am really surprised they were able to fill so many containers. In France, you can only fill the car reservoir. It is allowed to have a 20L jerrycan at home for mower or other appliances, or to transport in a 5L jerrycan for emergencies.
Load More Replies... A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
I live in the South. By what I'm sure is 100% sheer coincidence, the vast majority of the people in my area who refuse to wear masks or get vaccinated look awfully similar to the people in these pictures. Again, I'm sure there's no connection in mentalities whatsoever. None.
Load More Replies... COCO puff 3 years ago
In most contries you can't fill cans, plastic bins with fuel. Its illegal to do that, because of the safety hazards.
A.M. Pierre 3 years ago
It is illegal to do that in the US as well - the people shown doing that are breaking the law.
Load More Replies... I Liquored On 3 years ago
No wonder tRump loved the uneducated. Look how easily scared and influenced they are.
Robert Thompson 3 years ago
Not a single Trump sticker on any of the cars/trucks. Trump people are a proud people. It is Biden's people that won't tell you whom they voted for.
Load More Replies... Don't Look 3 years ago
If I was down there right now (parents live in western NC) I’d go up to each of these fat f***s with my camera going and ask them how they feel about endangering people’s lives. My dad is 86 and just had a triple bypass. He’s got kidney disease. This means that he has to be able to get to the hospital fairly easily (he was actually rushed to the ER three times in the last month). He’s never done anything to hurt anyone including hoarding. There are thousands of people like him all over the place. But do these people care? No. Why? Because they’re disgusting greedy fat assholes.
Rob Woodman 3 years ago
If he needs to be rushed to the hospital he’s better off calling an ambulance anyway. But keep on with the fat shaming. You seem very enlightened.
Load More Replies... Logic and Reason 3 years ago
Despite the (perhaps deliberately) extremely misleading title, we did not make this shortage. It was a ransomware attack, according to the most recent information I could find. Fix the title and stop deceiving your readers. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/business/live-news/us-gas-demand-05-12-21/index.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5035713001
Katchen 3 years ago
Thank you! And considering many of these people live in states where the ruling party’s answer to public woes is that people need to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” they’re getting boot-strappy. They likely assume the cyber attack won’t be resolved any time soon, and since they have at-will employment, they may be fired if they don’t have enough gas to drive themselves to work. No public transit in rural areas.
Load More Replies... K Witmer 3 years ago
The shortage is already over. Biden said it would only take a week and to not panic. Only red states act like this. Trumpers are the most selfish and the most easily triggered. It's so weird they talk about everything they hate all the time and they don't even realize they're completely talking about themselves. They are not self aware in the slightest. Projection is crazy. I want to know how they keep their children alive being that stupid??
Rob Woodman 3 years ago
He said that after Colonial paid the hackers $5million.
Load More Replies... Sleepyhead 3 years ago
"America First" doesn't seem as accurate as "Me First". I would like to find a new country, if anyone wouldn't mind.
LittleMissLotus 3 years ago
Do these people have any idea what's going to happen to them if they go anywhere within 15 feet of an open flame within a few days after doing this.....?
Kitty Luna Darrow 3 years ago
What's next? Oh, housing shortage due to godsdamn explosions and house fires!
TheReader19 3 years ago
Why is there not a policy in place to a dollar limit and in the car only no cans
Sinkvenice 3 years ago
Why are stations actually selling this much to people?? There should be a maximum spend so this stupidity wouldn't happen. Who the hell authorises the sale of plastic bags full of petrol??
BlahBlahBlackSheepah 3 years ago
If it's supposed to effect the whole east coast why is only the south east freaking out?
Cold Contagious 3 years ago
Gluttony is one of the 7 deadly sins and is a umbrella to catch all of these behaviors.
Load More Replies... Cip IESAN 3 years ago
Watching this pics I remembered the 1980's Romania... Only 20 liters (5.2 gallons) per month and people usually kept all the gasoline cans on the balcony or even in the bathrooms (there were apartments without balcony) "for urgent needs" or for vacations. Sometimes, gasoline stored in plastic cans started big fires. I remember my father found in my grandfather's attic two metal canisters from the WWII, which belonged to the Wehrmacht (with the eagle stamped on them) and he filled them too...
•LeXi• 3 years ago
Why are the gas stations even allowing this to happen. I know that some limiting them but most aren't. All I have to say, is, when things like this happens in our country, they show their true colors. When things are fine, ppl are like robots and acts fine but then when crisis happens, instead of working together, people get f****n stupid!!
Roadkill The Brave 3 years ago
I am not condoning most of this. The plastic bags, totes, etc, are stupid and dangerous. I especially dislike Mr. 18 bucks a gallon and the gougers. However the fuel barrels and water tanks they're filling in several isn't hording, that's most likely for farming or cattle guys. Also we didn't cause the shortage, the shortage was a cyber attack, the panic was onset due to the attack.
Sky Render 3 years ago
I am amazed that so few gas stations are responding the way they did back during the 1970s oil crisis. Back then you could be fined for "topping the tank", and filling jerry cans was forbidden. You would never be able to get away with the crap shown in these photos anywhere...
AzKhaleesi 3 years ago
This is so ridiculous. I absolutely hate human beings. I wish the world would just end already. This is like the TP shortage last year and what happened? All you dumb f***s ended up with a lifetime supply of TP that's it! I hope to God that all that gas you're hoarding either A) Goes bad so you can't use it and you wasted all that money or B) blows up in your garage while you're out joy riding "just cuz you can" (I want you out of the house because unlike you I'm not an asshole and don't want you to die)
neonn_pieee 3 years ago
I hear ya. I hate human beings as well. Sure there are some good ones out there but every day I literally hate humans more and more. I literally can't stand it. That's why I literally just stick to my doggos and SO :)
Load More Replies... CatWoman312 3 years ago
I had to get gas on Tuesday when all this started because I had to commute out of town for a funeral. Thankfully the sheetz I went to was full of decent human beings who just filled their tank, not tanks. People are so obnoxiously disgusting and greedy
Soggy Crumpet 3 years ago
This is more Anti-US propaganda from BP as this represents about a couple dozen people in the nation. I live in Florida where the “shortage” is real and there is no panic going on. Thanks yet again BP for being so quick to spread more hate.
Monika Rhodes 3 years ago
How is this hate? It's happening un us hence the article. You think BP is spreading hate? Maybe look inside your own country and see how people treat each other. Not to mention what orange turn done to usa..
Load More Replies... Paradise 3 years ago
Shows how much we value our cars, even when many work at home. I luckily now live a 30 second walk to work, husband WFH so I dont need much gas, but so many have to for their jobs, etc. We rely so much on gas and cars. I remember visiting Virginia years ago and there was a gas shortage then, too.
Dippin Dot 3 years ago
This happened in 2001 when Hurricane Iris closed down production for a bit. People obviously don’t remember that it was fixed in days.
Nadya Raymond 3 years ago
Non American here... why R people doing this? Is there an apocalypse coming that we don't know about?
Mike Weber 3 years ago
Was anyone else reminded of a certain ep of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia? 😀
Elizabeth Wilkins 3 years ago
I was hoping to see the picture of the lady trying to fill up a laundry basket. The kind with holes....
Voodoo Child 3 years ago
The scary thing is these idiots have a driver's license & the right to vote. No wonder our country is so f-ed up & the rest of the world thinks we're stupid. Selfish, narcissistic aholes :/
A Head 3 years ago
Hoarding is not cool; price gouging - not cool either. But I will say that gasoline is a commodity. You don't sell it for what you paid for it, you sell it for what the replacement cost is estimated to be, which is why you see prices go up immediately after some sort of crises is announced on the news. Most gas stations in the US make very little (like $0.02 per gallon) on the gas they sell. They make money on cigarettes, and $2.00 bottles of Diet Coke and tiny bags of Doritos.
El Dee 3 years ago
There's no shortage, do not hoard - immediately decide to hoard. Lesson - don't tell the public not to hoard, it's pointless and in fact makes them do it. But why are the petrol stations allowing this. Here you can only fill into an approved container for safety reasons. So either fill your tank or a MAX two gallon (imperial, not American - that's about 10l) petrol can (specifically designed and approved) When this has happened here it tends to be less of a worry
Leodavinci 3 years ago
A shortage started as soon as they shut down the pipeline... which was before most people even heard about the shortage and before some people started doing these things. Also, as has been reported many places, a lot of retailers were out of gas before any of this started happening. It wasn't these people who caused a shortage. I get several tech email newsletters and the ransomware attack (that caused the pipeline shutdown) was reported nearly a week before. I didn't associate that with the gas shortage until later, but it appears many people made a connection (ransomware attack/pipeline shutdown/gas shortage) I missed.
Hannah Edwards 3 years ago
When we had a fuel shortage in the UK some taxi driver in Derby filled wheelie bins with petrol in his cellar. The fire brigade had to evacuate the whole street to deal with it.
Shane S 3 years ago
What is with Panda lately? So many anti-American articles lately. I get it. We aren’t perfect. We got issues. I think almost every other country does too. The issues just vary. Sheesh.
Mark and Elmo 3 years ago
The fact that Bored Panda was built in America. You don't have to do that Shane.
Load More Replies... Steve 3 years ago
Makes me wish Covid was 1,000 times more lethal, then all these idiots would be dead
Debbie 3 years ago
I don't think their actions are right. I think the prices of gas were too low anyway, on the other hand, labour laws and wages are terrible. And people can't just not show up for work because they had no gas. Some people really DO need it to keep their jobs. I guess here in the Netherlands if there ever would be a gas shortage it would be not that big of a deal, no/less risk of losing your job for not being able to show up. And: Public transport is ok (lots of electric transport), Distances are usually shorter, more people have a bike, working from home is more allowed.. ofcourse hoarders will be hoarders.
Mark and Elmo 3 years ago
So they can die and make the gas get ever shorter than before.
Load More Replies... jk nbt 3 years ago
Also know that as little as 2% by volume of water mixed into gasoline will crack a piston or an engine block. Water is non-compressible & does not burn. If there is any water left in the container when you fill it with gasoline, it will go to the bottom & be undetectable. If you wreck the engine on a new car & claim warranty, the dealer will drain your gas tank & send the contents off for analysis. If they find any water, they will void the warranty. It costs $10,000 to replace an engine. Also, gasoline is a desiccant. It will literally suck the water vapor out of the air and mix it in.
Rick Seiden 3 years ago
The lines remind me of the 70's crisis. Some places only let you buy gas on even days if your license plate ended in an even number, and the same on odd. There were shootings in the lines. It was crazy. The pipeline is going to open and will be back to normal within a week. We'll be OK, people.
Caroline Nagel 3 years ago
I looked up the shelf life of gas: in an airtight metal container it can last for several years; in a plastic container - like most people seemed to use in this thread - it has a shelf life of a few months on the condition its kept airtight and in a dry place.
Sofiia Melnikova 3 years ago
with every image my hope for this country was tickling down the drain...
Nudge 3 years ago
there was a brief gas shortage in Texas a while back because of Hurricane Harvey, but it only lasted a few days. This seems a lot worse 😬
Logic and Reason 3 years ago
Hopefully, this will make people think about buying electric vehicles more seriously.
Steve Barnett 3 years ago
# SPOILER ALERT # Anyone else remember the scenario in Breaking Bad where Jesse thinks he’s being smart by dissolving a body in a bath tub? Yep, all this rolled into one.
Alan Green 3 years ago
And to think, once here in UK i tried to fill 1 x 20L metal jerrycan but the station refused to turn on the pump because it's illegal to use metal jerrycans over 10L and you can only have 2 of those or you're breaking the law. Plastic cans are limited to 5L.
J. Normal 3 years ago
I was feeling "guilty" because I want to go and fill my car's gas tank (do not drive much anymore) I was happy we just filled the lawn mower. I lived through the 70's... What I have noticed... all of these "shortages" are and will be made by the corporations, on purpose to drive up the prices. I expect to continue to see prices skyrocket, and wages to remain the same... after a few years they will raise the min wage... but NOTHING will be different. With the corporate inflation, the living standard will not change... raise wages - corporations will raise prices to make it less than insignificant. (aka complain and we will give you something to complain about!) The corporations in America CONTROL us... The consumers have no rights nor considerations by the $$$... it is THEIR money and we need to give it back to them with no questions asked. Paying you a penny for a day's labor is not slavery.
soni w 3 years ago
And while everyone's attention is diverted on this behaviour, a sneaky handshake deal goes ahead under a table somewhere and contracts are signed and land is stolen for pipelines and corps reap and reel and steal at consumer greed and stupidity. It's all just a basic marketing ploy of supply and demand and the typical human overreaction to not having what they demand.
Load More Replies... Bella, Your Kitty-Loving Queen 3 years ago
A lot of these people have gasoline in unsecured tanks- I DONT LIKE THAT!!!
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
This crap is all happening down South in the mask-refusing, COVID-denying, anti-vaxxer Trump states. Big surprise.
Teresa Taylor 3 years ago
I looked at these photos and (I am ashamed to admit) thought, "where's that litterbug smoker when you need them. All that gas would make a damned fine BOOM and blaze going down the interstate. Wouldn't that be a sight to behold?" Yes. These are terrible thoughts, and I am ashamed they popped into my head, but, when you hoard gas like this you are jeopardizing your life (and others) while transporting and storing it. I'm just waiting for the newsreels.
Dhukath 3 years ago
Pandemic panic = toilet ro'll stockpiling, fuel pipeline hacking = petrol hoarding, alien life discovered = this is why they don't tell us about things!
WhoAreYouToSayPandasAreBored 3 years ago
You are mistaken. This is EXACTLY why they tell us things.. look at the prices! They are profiting off of all of it!!!
Load More Replies... RatherLoopy 3 years ago (edited)
Right... tell Americans not to hoard. That worked so well for toilet paper... and hand sanitizer... and bottled water... and canned goods... and rice... and beans... Years back, a friend pointed out that I hated people, and I protested. Now I'm ready to own it... people stink.
Mark Howell 3 years ago
When the zombie appocalypse begins, they'll starve over there, no brains to eat ;o)
Kristin Ingersoll 3 years ago
Took this yesterday. In Virginia. Where a state of emergency has been declared. Wanna bet he also refuses to wear a mask??? (He was wearing his FedEx uniform, too. Classy.) gas1-609d7...34abb9.jpg
VeninTheNonBinaryRogue 3 years ago
These people are so selfish. There are people who actually need it for important things.
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Maybe some of these people are the ones who need it for important things. Compactors, generators, water pumps, air compressors, power screeds, power trowels, cement mixers, concrete saws, etc. Don't run on hopes and prayers, they run on gasoline. If I were a site manager and had the choice of paying 20 guys to fiddle around with shovels all day or obtain the fuel necessary for them to do their jobs efficiently, I know which choice I would make.
Load More Replies... jk nbt 3 years ago
ALL OF THESE POSTS DEPICT WILDLY UNSAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE. ONE MISTAKE WILL KILL YOU OR BURN UP YOUR HOUSE. All gasoline should only be stored in an approved glass or metal container. Gasoline is a powerful solvent that will dissolve many/most types of plastic. A slow leak of gasoline in your garage can burn your house down, so only store it outside in a metal building. The vapors from a slow leak can be ignited by the gas flame water heater in the garage turning on. The flash will ignite the source of the leak. All of these pictures depict wildly unsafe handling of gasoline.
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Um, at least in the US, red plastic gasoline cans are the norm, and are perfectly safe. Metal safety cans are absolutely better, but at 4-5x the price, they are much less common. The yellow (diesel) and blue (kerosene) cans are made of the exact same material and are just color-coded for which fuel they (should) contain.
Load More Replies... Mark and Elmo 3 years ago (edited)
And just like that, you are also one of those people that make the gas shortage cut down even more. I hope this artical has an empty spot for you to be in. Even if you are saying it on porpose just to get a reaction or not, go f*** off, Bill.
Load More Replies... Mark and Elmo 3 years ago
So your saying that you can do better then 328.2 million people in the U.S?
Load More Replies... M O'Connell 3 years ago
Where you see "sloppy" I largely see "work clothes." If your business depends on having fuel for your equipment, and delivery to your jobsite has been cancelled due to supplier shortage, you're going to do what you need to do. And you probably won't be wearing your Sunday-best.
Load More Replies... Monika Rhodes 3 years ago
It wasn't a cyber attack, it was us who shut down pipeline.
Load More Replies... WhoAreYouToSayPandasAreBored 3 years ago
I also live in Pennsylvania and gas was $3.10/gallon last I filled up.
Load More Replies... Logic and Reason 3 years ago
Yes, you’re sooo much better than other people. Why didn’t I think about walking before? So glad I now have the knowledge to know I can just walk halfway across the country to see my family. Thank you for enlightening me.
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