Bad weather is cited as the leading cause of fuel
shortages in the U.S., with notables like Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Hurricane
Ike in 2008. Hurricanes, winter storms, and the like push the demand for oil as
people flock to gas stations to buy fuel for their heaters and household power
generators. In addition, bad weather can damage roads, highways, power stations,
and other infrastructure, leading to heavy-duty repairs and stalled production
lines that also drive gas prices up.
Oil disasters like the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon
oil rig tragedy have an even more significant impact since they directly affect
the country’s oil supply. Oil disasters can also force the government to impose
restrictions and penalties to oil companies, which translate to higher fuel
costs and, in turn, more fuel shortages. The Deepwater Horizon disaster, in
particular, cost the economy about $14 billion.
The U.S. is currently the world’s leading oil
consumer, requiring 18.5 million barrels every day to sustain itself. As such,
energy emergencies can take a great toll on the nation’s economy, as evidenced
by the U.S. Energy Department’s Emergency Situation Reports from 2003 to 2013.
Reliable providers of on site fuel service played a huge role in preventing
these situations from getting worse.
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