Got plenty of Propane ?
http://news.msn.com/us/us-propane-shortage-affects-millions-in-freeze
Forum Discussion
Well, here's what happens... people delay, then delay, and the next day, delay a bit more instead of filling the tank.
Then suddenly, we have a weather spike - and everyone says, "OMG, I need to get propane just in case we lose power, or can't get out."
Then everyone runs out at the same time, at the last minute, and buys it. So, the local supplies run out of stock, sorta.
Anecdotal evidence: We lived very rural in California foothills for awhile (ten years) and a retired couple with a one-wheel drive Oldsmobile, an older model, lived across the street. We lost power often during snow or wind storms and it usually took a day or two to get it back. Once, ten days in a major snowstorm. So, we'd watch the news and prepare for the weather - shopped and stockpiled. But every time, that is EVERY time, the neighbor would wait until the storm hit and muddied and slicked up the dirt road he lived on. Then he'd get all worried and head out to the store (eleven miles) and he'd get stuck on his own little dirt road, in a little pocket. Every time ... I'd always tell him, Sal, call me, I'll take you in my 4x4 (he never did get it - shop early)
Anyway, he'd call, I'd go haul him home the quarter mile with my tractor, and then take him down, and he'd buy one quart of milk and a loaf of bread and a gallon of water, and go home.
Was a strange thing with him - it was like a recording replay each time. But he was tuned into shopping at the last minute, never planning ahead when a storm was eminent.
Lots of people did it too, not just Sal. And each time it happened, maybe six or seven times over a winter, the store (a small general store) would run out of water -- every single time, Because people didn't plan, they reacted to an instant situation and depleted the local supplies. And, of course, the local weekly screamed "water shortage due to storm" for lack of other headlines ...
We got to laugh about it after awhile - because it wasn't truly a 'catastrophic event' more just a localized situation. We'd watch it rain / or snow for an hour or so, and wait for Sal's call.
Then suddenly, we have a weather spike - and everyone says, "OMG, I need to get propane just in case we lose power, or can't get out."
Then everyone runs out at the same time, at the last minute, and buys it. So, the local supplies run out of stock, sorta.
Anecdotal evidence: We lived very rural in California foothills for awhile (ten years) and a retired couple with a one-wheel drive Oldsmobile, an older model, lived across the street. We lost power often during snow or wind storms and it usually took a day or two to get it back. Once, ten days in a major snowstorm. So, we'd watch the news and prepare for the weather - shopped and stockpiled. But every time, that is EVERY time, the neighbor would wait until the storm hit and muddied and slicked up the dirt road he lived on. Then he'd get all worried and head out to the store (eleven miles) and he'd get stuck on his own little dirt road, in a little pocket. Every time ... I'd always tell him, Sal, call me, I'll take you in my 4x4 (he never did get it - shop early)
Anyway, he'd call, I'd go haul him home the quarter mile with my tractor, and then take him down, and he'd buy one quart of milk and a loaf of bread and a gallon of water, and go home.
Was a strange thing with him - it was like a recording replay each time. But he was tuned into shopping at the last minute, never planning ahead when a storm was eminent.
Lots of people did it too, not just Sal. And each time it happened, maybe six or seven times over a winter, the store (a small general store) would run out of water -- every single time, Because people didn't plan, they reacted to an instant situation and depleted the local supplies. And, of course, the local weekly screamed "water shortage due to storm" for lack of other headlines ...
We got to laugh about it after awhile - because it wasn't truly a 'catastrophic event' more just a localized situation. We'd watch it rain / or snow for an hour or so, and wait for Sal's call.
