I live in South Jersey and I am dumbfounded at all these people in North Jersey waiting in line for four hours or more for gas when where I live, just an hour to the south, gas is plentiful and at normal prices (well, really at “new normal” Obama era prices, close to $4 a gallon). I get it if you let your tank go to vapors but if you have a gallon or two left in it, you can make it here and gas up all you want.
Around 5 years ago, we had an ice storm here in Kansas. After around 4 days without power, I set out to buy a generator where I live (Topeka). I called around, and eeryone was sold out.
One Lowes store was due a delivery though...around 50 generators, but they were all spoken for. They still suggested I show up for the scheduled generator delivery, just in case somebody who had reservedone didn’t show.
I got there, and found around 150 people waiting. When the generators came, it was a near riot. Police were on hand to keep the situation calm (it got especially bad when one guy had reserved 2 generators). Then in a matter of minutes, all the generators were gone, and at least 100 of us were sitting empty handed...and fuming with anger.
Then I had an idea. I walked up to customer service and asked for the numbers to all their Kansas City area stores. A few phone calls later, I had one reserved, and I hit the road for the 60 mile trip for a generator.
It was unreal - if not for the police presence, there would have been fist fights over generators...when there were plenty just an hour away. I never understood why Lowes didn’t shipp all their generators to where the ice storm hit though?