So I am driving to Htgn from Charlotte this AM. 3/4 tank of gas leaving Huntersville. Cross into WV and start to think about gas. Had already hit a bunch of July 4 week travel traffic through VA so did not think much of the 1/4 mile line I saw over in the southbound lane of 77 getting off at Princeton. After a bit, pulled into the first Turnpike Travel Plaza to see 75+ cars in line for the pumps and none of them seemed to be working. Kept on to Winterplace exit and got off, but saw 50+ cars backed up the road trying to get into a station. Kept going to Beckley, got off and pulled into a Exxon. 40 cars, but the place was closed...This was when I found out about the storm. Plenty of gas, but no electricity to pump it. Every gas outlet for miles had 50-100 cars who needed gas but no dice. Called my brother who found out for me that gas and electricity was available 40 miles up the road in Chelyan. Running on fume with about 10 miles to go when I come across the second Travel Plaza and see lights on - Electricity! State Police are managing a line of perhaps 80 cars trying to get gas. Got filled up and made it to Htgn.
Went out with my mother and brother tonight for a bit and we noticed lines at all stations. Dinner was a nightmare. With 60% of Cabell County out, everyone was rushing to those areas with electricity to fill up their gas tanks and since they could not cook, every restaurant had a 2 hour wait. By the time I was heading home at 11, I didn't see a single open station. Earlier, we'd seen a notice on TV that Dunbar was out of gas, so don't try going there. Seems everywhere from Charleston through Hurricane was down except for Dunbar so everyone headed there and drained the city of gas.
Will get up in the AM and head out early to find gas for the ride home...Wish me luck. It's like the freakin' Zombie Apocolypse out there.