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Lines getting longer at pumps

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Lines crawled out into the streets leading up to the Exxon gas station on Pineville-Matthews Road on Thursday morning, as it was one of the few stations in Charlotte with fuel.

Exxon actually hired security guards to help with the lines.

"I can’t believe it," said one driver in line, who waited an hour for gas. "But I have to, my car’s on 'E.'"

Gov. Mike Easley said late Wednesday that additional gasoline supplies have been released to North Carolina.

"The major oil companies have agreed to make additional gas supplies available to hard hits areas of our state, particularly western North Carolina," said Easley. "We are getting tankers from Wilmington, Tennessee and South Carolina terminals to bring hundreds of thousands of gallons of gas to those most in need."

The governor said the additional gallons of gas will be available over the next two days.

But that wasn't helping many of the drivers waiting in line in Charlotte on Thursday morning.

"My truck is out of gas," said Diane Manzare. "So I'll also have to get a gas can to get some gas for my truck."

The managers at the Exxon had expected to have enough gas to last the morning, but just before 8 a.m., the station announced that it had run out gas, leaving more than 40 drivers angrily heading off some in search of gas somewhere else.

Drivers line up for gas

On Wednesday, finding gas in the Charlotte area was like a treasure hunt for some drivers.

"I passed like six or seven gas stations that were completely out," one driver told NewsChannel 36.

"South Boulevard doesn't have any. Independence doesn't have any. No one has gas," said another.

For those who found gas, lines were long.

"I decided to stop because I was about to run out," said one man. "I'm on E. I'm sitting here with the truck turned off just rolling inch by inch as the line slowly moves, and hopefully I can get in and get some gas and not get into the parking lot and have them run out."

There were also reports of tempers flaring at the pumps. NewsChannel 36 reporters saw a fight break out at one station after someone cut in line.

Viewers have also reported many near-accidents because of people trying to get into gas stations.

(NewsChannel 36 reporters Michelle Boudin and Richard DeVayne contributed to this story.)