Prices here on the west coast of Canada over the last week or two have been hovering around 1.08 a litre CAD (roughly * 4 to get your US price, somewhat less), as "low" as 0.98 a litre.

This morning - 1.12. Not a big jump; we will not have shortages here, unless people freak out.

I recall the OPEC induced shortages in the US - watching film of the line ups; we did not experience that in Canada of course, but the entire event did also modify behaviour here.... Pinto's (to explode) and Vega's, and a lot of Datsuns and Toyotas and Mazdas were bought in the years to come.. for some time really, especially here in the west where we've always been a little more enviro conscious (and don't have the snow of the rest of Canada).

Another cycle to come.

Feeling good about the car I sold over a year ago in anticipation of this...

As with the immediate days following 9/11, I'm sure there will be gas station owners charged for price gouging.  Gas stations are allow a maximum 6% profit on gasoline.  The owner of the gas station charging $5.87 must have been charged a wholesale price $5.54.  Either that, or he was breaking the law.  Once all the excitement and confusion of immediate affects of the hurricane subside, investigations will begin.  People will be held responsible for their actions.

Kinder Morgan, who operates the Plantation pipeline to the southeast, said they are at 25% capacity, with full capacity after electricity is restored to Collins.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=93621&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=751422&highlight =

So things in Georgia and Florida might be a little tight for a little while.