Gas Lines in Flatbush

Daniel D'Addario — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:57:11 -0400

There was a cacophony of horns blaring at Coney Island Avenue, as policemen directed traffic around the Hess Station at the corner of 18th Avenue. The passengers of a Meals on Wheels van owned by the Senior League of Flatbush stood on the sidewalk and told The Observer they'd been waiting in line for 45 minutes and moved about a block; they declined to be interviewed further as the line had started moving. "We're just trying to do our part, you know?," one young man in a Harvard sweatshirt said before hopping back in to the vehicle and moving about one car-length. They were about 25 cars from the front, a number difficult to gauge as cars traveling from cross-streets kept cutting into the line.

The gas lines in Manhattan and New Jersey have prompted some panic over a gas shortage, one that an expert quoted by Forbes said is more a case of a shortage of gas stations with power and the ability to fuel large trucks.

Passing Gas: As Filling Stations Run Out, Cars Back Up

Matt Chaban — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:12:14 -0400

Brooklyn is out of gas, literally and figuratively. (Ian Lamb)

This reporter heard from a friend last night that they had seen a line for gas on Empire Boulevard, on the border of Brooklyn's Crown Heights and Flatbush neighborhoods, that stretched for 10 blocks. Meanwhile, special corespondent Ian Lamb came upon this scene in Kensington:

This line for gas in Kensington went all the way down the block. More than 20 cars. There was a news truck from YNN in line, too. It was the one of only two stations I saw with gas in all of Kensington, Ditmas Park, Midwood, and Windsor Terrace. The line for the other one was so long that the police were there controlling traffic. More 10 stations with no gas.

I had to stop looking because I was already on empty. All these cars were shut off to conserve fuel while waiting. I want to help transport goods to the Rockaways tomorrow but I can't, if I can't find gas. I imagine they'll get shipments overnight tonight, or in the morning, but it's chaos right now.

We're all hoping he makes it.

Observer » gas lines

Gas Lines in Flatbush

Passing Gas: As Filling Stations Run Out, Cars Back Up