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STEVE BOUSQUETThe order gives the state power to ration gasoline, but state officials say they don't plan to do that.
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush on Sunday issued a sweeping order giving the state power to oversee the distribution of gasoline to ensure utility trucks, emergency vehicles and others have enough fuel.
While the order gives the state power to ration gasoline, state officials said they do not intend to take that step. They said they want make sure gas is available for vehicles being used to help with the recovery after Hurricane Frances.
But they also suggested the order is intended to discourage motorists from getting back on the road immediately.
"The average driver, we're asking them to stay home," Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings said. "If you have to be out, think about the fact that you may well not have gas. So don't start out unless you know that you can get to where you're going with the gas in your car."
Jennings and other officials said they do not want consumers to dash to local stations to fill up.
"There is no need to panic," said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen Castille. "We will not have widespread shortages."
In a three-page executive order, Bush gave the Department of Environmental Protection power to "regulate the allocation and distribution of fuel supplies during this emergency."
Bush gave DEP the authority to "actively supervise all actions needed to implement this executive order, including but not limited to all communications among the private entity participants with respect to the allocation and distribution of fuel supplies."
Bush gave DEP the power to issue rules to implement the order and ordered businesses to cooperate.
"We were actually doing this with the consent of the major supply companies throughout the nation," Castille said. "This just makes it official. The companies have been great."
She said antitrust laws prevent gas companies from colluding to coordinate gas shipments. Before issuing the order, officials said, they discussed plans with the Department of Justice in Washington.
The gas-allocation order came after a series of stern warnings by Bush and other state officials urging Florida residents to stay in out-of-state hotels or in shelters until Tuesday. Spot shortages at some gas stations have been reported since Thursday.
The state's biggest distribution site for fuel is Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, which was open on Sunday. The other two points of entry for fuel are the ports in Tampa and Jacksonville.
Barges have left ports in Louisiana and Texas and are headed for the Port of Tampa, Castille said, and the order ensures a gasoline barge will take priority over a cruise ship at a Florida seaport.