Amanda R. is a mother of five from Charlotte, North Carolina.
On May 12, 2021, she needed gas like everyone else.
But unlike the people who rushed to the pumps when they first heard about the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, Amanda waited.
And that decision left her stranded.
You see, the Colonial Pipeline attack shut down 45% of the East Coast’s fuel supply for nearly a week.
Over 10,600 gas stations ran completely dry.
Prices spiked to their highest point in six years.
People filled plastic bags with gasoline out of desperation.
But when Amanda finally drove to a gas station, it was too late.
The station was out of gas.
Her tank was below the red “E”, and her car barely had enough fuel to idle.
Other drivers received the bad news and drove off to find gas elsewhere.
But Amanda was stuck.
Out of gas and out of options, she asked if she could just park her car at the station so it wouldn’t get towed.
Her children watched as their mother broke down crying at the pump.
If she had known how to prepare for fuel shortages, she could have avoided this disaster.
Because, when gas stations run dry, it happens fast, and if you’re not already prepared, you’re in trouble.
And if you’re ill-prepared, like Amanda, you can be left stranded with no way to get home.
Fuel shortages don’t just happen from cyberattacks.
Hurricanes, earthquakes, grid failures, refinery accidents, and civil unrest can all cut off your fuel supply overnight.
So, the question isn’t if another shortage will happen again, it’s when – regardless of where you live.
Now, here’s how to prepare for fuel shortages before the next one hits.
Keep your tank at least half full, always:
This is the simplest rule and the one most people ignore.
Running below half a tank means gambling with your ability to get home or leave home in an emergency.
When a shortage hits, everyone needs gas at the same time, which creates massive bottlenecks.
By the time you realize there’s a problem, stations are already empty.
Make it a habit: when your gauge hits the halfway mark, fill up. No exceptions.
Store fuel at home in approved containers:
At minimum, you should have several five-gallon containers stored in your garage or shed.
That’s enough to fill most vehicles at least once and get you through a short-term outage.
Use only approved safety containers: red for gasoline, yellow for diesel, blue for kerosene.
Store them in a ventilated area away from your living space, heat sources, and direct sunlight.
Never store fuel inside your home.
The fumes are dangerous to your household and pets, and a leak creates an immediate fire hazard.
Use fuel stabilizers to extend shelf life:
Fuel doesn’t last forever, and without treatment, gasoline breaks down and can damage your engine.
Regular gasoline lasts 3-6 months with stabilizers added.
Premium unleaded can last 6-9 months with proper treatment.
Diesel fuel can last 6-12 months with stabilizers and treatment.
Products like STA-BIL keep fuel fresh and prevent gunk and varnish buildup.
Add stabilizer when you fill your containers, not after the fuel has been sitting.
Rotate your stored fuel regularly: use the oldest fuel first, then refill with fresh gas.
Calculate your actual fuel needs:
How much should you stockpile? That depends on your situation.
At minimum, store enough to fill your vehicle once, that covers most short-term outages lasting a week or less.
If you commute more than 30 minutes daily, double your storage.
If you have a generator, factor that fuel consumption into your numbers.
If you’re an essential worker who must get to work during emergencies, you’ll need even more.
A 100-gallon fuel barrel with a hand pump provides serious storage capacity for rural properties but check local ordinances first.
Secure your fuel supply:
When gas becomes scarce, desperate people will steal it.
Use a locking gas cap on your vehicle to prevent siphoning.
Install an anti-siphon device in your fuel tank for extra protection.
If you have fuel storage containers or barrels, secure them with heavy chains and padlocks.
Keep your fuel storage location private, don’t advertise that you have supplies.
Drawbacks to fuel shortage preparedness:
Storage space requirements:
Five-gallon containers take up room in your garage or shed.
Larger fuel barrels require even more space and may need a dedicated storage area.
Not everyone has the space for significant fuel storage, especially in apartments or urban areas.
Upfront costs:
Quality fuel containers, stabilizers, locking caps, and anti-siphon devices all cost money.
A 100-gallon barrel with pump and security hardware can run several hundred dollars.
However, being stranded without fuel during an emergency costs far more.
Maintenance and rotation:
Stored fuel requires attention; you can’t just fill containers and forget them.
You need to rotate stock every few months to prevent degradation.
Bad fuel can damage engines and leave you worse off than having no fuel at all.
Legal restrictions:
Some areas have limits on how much fuel you can store on residential property.
Check local fire codes and ordinances before investing in large storage systems.
Homeowners associations may also have rules about fuel storage.
Here are your priorities for fuel shortage preparedness:
Start with the half-tank rule. It costs the same as filling up your tank normally and provides immediate protection.
Next, get two or three five-gallon safety cans and keep them filled with stabilized fuel.
Add a locking gas cap and anti-siphon device to your vehicle.
Consider a manual siphon pump for transferring fuel safely.
If you have a generator, make sure you have enough stored fuel to run it for at least 72 hours.
For serious preparedness, look into a larger storage barrel with a hand pump: especially if you’re in a rural area.
Amanda got lucky. A stranger heard her crying and brought her a spare gas can from home.
But you can’t count on the kindness of strangers when the pumps run dry.
