It’s a story of growing gas lines and dwindling supplies.  To start.  BUT, at least, things will hopefully be back on track by week’s end.

According to an AL.COM report – Alabama and other states across the Southeast – are experiencing the effects of the Colonial Pipeline shutdown with some stations being out of gas already and others beginning to run low.

Harton’s – located between Gaylesville and Cedar Bluff has already placed a $25 limit on gasoline purchases in an effort to allow as many people as possible to fuel up.  We have reports of stores across the Georgia state line placing bags over some pumps in both Floyd and Chattooga counties.  

We’ll monitor Cherokee County locations throughout the day, regarding availability –  AND price per gallon.

Colonial Pipeline spokespersons said Monday afternoon parts of its system are being brought back on-line, and it hopes to restore service by the end of the week,

CNBC is reporting a cybersecurity attack forced the Colonial Pipeline to shut down its entire system all the way from Texas to New York City.  Alabama – along with Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee relies on the Pipeline for most of its fuel supply   with the network shipping more than 2.5 million barrels a day of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to customers throughout the eastern U.S. – about 45% of all fuel consumed on the East Coast.

Experts said the last time there was an outage of this magnitude was in 2016, and gas prices rose 15 to 20 cents a gallon – adding that the Northeast had significantly more local refining capacity at that time.

The FBI confirmed Monday that ransomware made by a group known as “DarkSide” was used in the attack.  That group has posted a message on its web page suggesting an affiliate was behind the attack – and that it would vet buyers of its ransomware in the future to “avoid social consequences.”

(AL.COM/www.al.com/The Associated Press and Bloomberg News)