Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared an Emergency Order for Florida until the Colonial Pipeline resumes full fuel supply operations, and is encouraging the public to not be concerned over gas supplies in Florida.
The governor’s order is in response to the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack which forced the pipeline to temporarily halt operations. The Colonial Pipeline supplies nearly half of the Eastern Seaboard with fuel.
According to the executive order, on May 7, Colonial Pipeline was the “target of a cyberattack that disabled certain computer systems responsible for sustaining pipeline operations.”
The order includes waiving the size and weight restrictions for trucks and also prohibits gas price gouging.
Demand has been up by more than 40% in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia, according to Gasbuddy.
Officials are urging the public to not be concerned over fuel supplies, specifically in Central Florida, as most of our gas supplies come via ships, not from the pipeline. Panic buying or hoarding gas could lead to the situation becoming worse.
According to officials, the pipeline should become fully operational again by the end of this week and over the weekend.
