With the frustrating gas shortage of Sandy still fresh on their minds, drivers are taking no chances when it comes to filling up their tanks and stocking up on generator fuel ahead of the winter storm.
Long lines for gas were being reported across the tri-state, with drivers estimating between 20 to 40 cars waiting to fill up at a time.
In Plainview on Long Island, a Mobil gas station was noticeably busier than normal for a Thursday night.
"Better safe than sorry," said Mark Breyer of Old Bethpage as he filled up a fuel container for a power generator. He went 12 days without power during Sandy.
Ruby Avila said on Facebook she drove past a Hess Express on Merrick Avenue in East Meadow, Long Island, and "every station I've seen since has had lines."
Kathleen Griffin said she waited 25 to 40 minutes for gas in Montvale, N.J.
"We have been traumatized by Sandy," said Julie Ritsema on Facebook. "We learned don't wait to fill up, there might not be gas to pump."
Still, others wondered whether it made sense at all to fill up gas tanks when the roads would be impassable anyway.
"Where are these people going that they need to fill up their gas tanks?" questioned Linda Pedersen Doherty. "It's a blizzard, not Armageddon, stay home!"
Local
The gas shortage after Sandy was so severe that officials in New York and New Jersey had to impose gas rationing, some lasting several weeks. The shortage was attributed to power outages at stations and storm-damaged fuel ports, as well as panic-buying and hoarding on the part of drivers.
