Let me try to resuscitate this thread.
I was driving in '73 when the USA had gas lines and the odd-even license plate system for a few months. I remember studying for my university courses while in my car waiting in line for gas. Prices edged up, but not all that much. Again in '79 we had lines, but for a shorter time and prices edged up higher briefly yet settling quickly back down.
I'm wondering if the USA will see long gas lines or higher prices or both. Obviously higher prices can reduce demand thereby reducing the severity of gas station waiting lines, but it will be interesting to see how the soon-coming shortages are handled by the authorities.
Will rationing be attempted? Will emergency vehicles and the private vehicles of emergency workers be allowed to buy unlimited/greater amounts like last time?
The actual logistics of handling the crisis will be very interesting. I doubt if any civil authorities are planning for this. I bet it blindsides them and everyone else (well, not us
) practically overnight. I think we should be ready for all three possibilities. Long waiting lines, higher prices and rationing.
We can prepare for long lines only by buying extra fuel containers which we can fill thereby reducing the time wasted in line. We can plan for higher prices by unloading our gas hogs and buying fuel efficient vehicles. If (when??) rationing is ordered, we can use the extra containers to privately purchase fuel from those who don't use their entire allocation, much like people did during WWII which was the last time the USA had gas rationing.
Get ready.
EastBay
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