State officials urge Floridians not to panic amid ongoing gas pipeline woes

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — Millions of people along the east coast are rushing to fuel up their cars as another day passes that the Colonial Pipeline is shut down.

Russian hackers forced the pipeline to stop their normal operations and fears of a gas shortage are growing.

Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida are all under a state of emergency. But that doesn’t mean we’re in any danger yet.

State officials are urging people to avoid panicking and hoarding gasoline.

The major pipeline normally transports fuel across the east coast and throughout the southeast, but not in Florida. That means, the lines we’ve been seeing are squeezing supply and fueling panic buying.

Gas prices are expected to rise in our area because of the national gas shortage and the recent panic purchases at the pump.

A spokesperson for AAA said that the longer the pipeline is shutdown, the greater the chance gas prices go up.

Governor Ron DeSantis said the National Guard is ready to respond if need be.

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