State says no free fuel for hurricane evacuations

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

(5/31/06 - HOUSTON) -- A free fuel plan unveiled to the public by a state official this week was incorrect and not approved by top emergency leaders, officials said Wednesday.

The plan was outlined Tuesday for about 500 people -- mostly Harris County residents -- at the Houston/Galveston Hurricane Workshop. But state officials said a day later that they were unfamiliar with the free fuel system described during the public presentation by Jenniffier Hawes, a regional liaison officer with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"The information she presented was incorrect," said Rachael Novier, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry. "The situation is being dealt with within the division of emergency management."

Hawes said Tuesday that under the free fuel plan -- which was also explained on a large projection screen behind her -- only vehicles with little fuel remaining would get access to the free pumps.

She said drivers looking to top off would be sent to pay at other stations. The free gas would be exclusively available at Valero, Shell, Exxon Mobil and Marathon stations, she said.

After the presentation was over, Hawes told The Associated Press, "We don't want a lack of financial resources to leave someone stranded."

Hawes declined comment Wednesday, referring questions to state emergency management officials.

The revelation of a non-existent free fuel plan surprised -- and scared -- many state agencies and industry officials who would be directly involved in such a situation.

If motorists showed up to stations expecting free gas during an evacuation, "we could end up with riots in our driveways," said Scott Fisher, spokesman for the Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association.

Fuel availability was one of five key areas that a hurricane task force, appointed by Perry, identified as needing immediate improvement before the next hurricane season.

When Hurricane Rita threatened the Texas coast in August, thousands of cars were left abandoned along highways as more than 3 million people evacuated the Houston area. Highways were clogged with traffic for hours and gas stations quickly ran out of fuel because of the intense demand.

According to the state's new evacuation plan, officials will work closely with gas companies to ensure that stations along evacuation routes are adequately filled before an evacuation is called. Officials have said that they will assess the gas supply and send out tankers 120 hours before tropical storm force winds make landfall.

On the heels of the erroneous plan going public, Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Cox said Wednesday that if stalled drivers are spotted by courtesy patrol trucks, they'll be given enough gas to get to the nearest station.

"But there will be no free fill-ups," he said.

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