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Hurricane Katrina

People try to cope as gasoline passes $3

The shock waves from Hurricane Katrina hit Citrus County, causing fuel price spikes and shortages.

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published September 2, 2005

As gas shortages from the Gulf of Mexico caused prices at some local gas stations to shoot past $3 per gallon Thursday, county officials urged employees to conserve fuel in any way possible.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection officials estimate that damage to fuel production equipment in the gulf will result in a 40 percent reduction in fuel production lasting at least a few weeks.

In a memo sent to all county employees Thursday, County Administrator Richard Wesch suggested scheduling meetings so the fewest number of people have to drive, carpooling, and using cruise control.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office told deputies to stop personal use of department-issued vehicles and advised them to respond by phone when possible for nonemergency calls. In addition, the temperature on thermostats will be raised at all Sheriff's Office facilities.

"Fuel is short and in great need at this point and time," sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney said. "If there are ways that we can conserve fuel consumption, then certainly we're going to make that effort."

Tierney emphasized that public safety will not be compromised.

At the BP station on U.S. 41 N in Inverness, owner Gus Migdad said he ran out of premium gas around noon Thursday. The station's store of regular and mid grade gas was gone by Wednesday night, he said.

"They're panicking," said Migdad as he watched person after person drive into the parking lot seeking gas Thursday afternoon. He said he expected a new gas shipment to arrive later Thursday.

Neil Ketzlick, a property appraiser for the county, stopped by the station Thursday afternoon after trying to find gas at four other stations in Inverness.

"This is going to be murder for the people who do this for a living," said Ketzlick, who regularly drives around the county as part of his job. "I just can't believe the gas could be there this morning, and now it's gone."

While a gas shortage may be Citrus County's most direct connection to damage from Hurricane Katrina, many individuals and local organizations have started looking for ways to help.

"You get a feeling of hopelessness, just sitting by and watching it," said John Walker, vice president of manufacturing for Pro-Line Boats in Homosassa.

In addition to collecting money, canned goods and tools from the company's 281 employees, Walker said he called the Red Cross this week to offer more permanent assistance to hurricane victims: jobs.

He said he would like to hire up to 30 workers left unemployed by Katrina and help them relocate to Citrus County.

"We have a problem with blue-collar workers in Citrus County. There's a shortage of them," Walker said. "We just want people that are willing to work that have some sort of hand-tool operation experience. We'll teach them how to build boats."

At Pope John Paul II Catholic School in Lecanto, teachers and parents were struggling to explain to students what happened.

Patti Johnson, 55, whose son Austin is in sixth grade, came up with a plan.

For every bed students have at home, they will donate $1. For every light bulb, they will give 10 cents. And for every chair, they will contribute 25 cents.

That way, she said, they feel like they're making a difference, and they begin to grasp how lucky they are to have a home with electricity where they can sleep and eat.

"You have to be so careful with children. You don't want to petrify them with what's happening, but you want to make them aware of what's happening and how blessed we are," Johnson said. "It's our responsibility to help our neighbors."

Times staff writer Eddy Ramirez contributed to this report. Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

[Last modified September 2, 2005, 02:15:35]