TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - In an effort to not repeat the runs on gas stations seen prior to Hurricane Irma, stockpiling fuel reserves around the state would be the subject of a task force that drew support in its first Senate committee Thursday.
The proposal would set up the Florida Strategic Fuel Reserve Task Force which would recommend a plan for the state to meet both private and public fuel needs during natural emergencies and major disasters.
The nine-member task force would be appointed evenly by the governor, the president of the Senate and the House speaker.
Florida struggled to keep up with fuel demand as Hurricane Irma neared the state last September.
As 6.5 million people were ordered to evacuate their homes and others scrambled for last-minute hurricane supplies, drivers reported spending up to 12 hours on routes that typically are covered in six or seven hours.
The situation grew worse as ports, where fuel enters the state, were closed due to winds from Irma. State Senator Victor Torres is co-sponsoring the bill.
“This bill gives an opportunity now for the state to prepare better in the future, so we can have those fuel locations up and ready in case a disaster comes and we need to have those fuels available,” said Sen. Torres, D- Orlando.
Immediately before Irma, in an effort to rush fuel into the state before the storm, Florida Highway Patrol troopers served as escorts for tanker trucks heading toward gas stations.
The Senate bill is similar to a recommendation out of the House Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness for the Department of Transportation to contract an independent study on the feasibility of establishing strategically located petroleum distribution centers across the state.
