Hurricane Ike affects Arkansas gas prices
Jennifer Joyner
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
Oil refineries appear to have survived Hurricane Ike and are largely intact, according to preliminary reports coming from the Galveston-Houston area hit by the storm.
However, it could still be days or weeks before refineries are able to get back to full production, bringing a corresponding drop in gasoline prices, which spiked as the storm neared refineries and made landfall early Saturday, according to a story in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Gov. Mike Beebe declared a state of emergency Friday because of gas supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike, which bore down on the Texas coast las weekend.
Beebe said he made the declaration to help the attorney general's office pursue anyone who participates in price-gouging, according to the 40/29 Web site.
Although prices did not rise as much as anticipated, students said they still are affected by the high gas prices.
"My hometown is in Fayetteville, and I like to visit my parents, but I can't drive out to see them" because of high gas prices, said sophomore Max Duell.
"Also, I have to use my meal plan on campus every day," he said. "I can't go anywhere else. I spend all my money on gas. I can't go out with my friends,now. We just hang out on campus."
Duell said he thinks gas companies are gouging prices and that prices could possibly be lower.
The gas "crisis" has resulted in "very long lines at the gas pump," said sophomore Xenia Ragin. "Also, it takes a whole lot more money to fill up."
Ragin said she thinks rising gas costs have been caused by weather and also have to do with the supply the gas companies have.
The prices represent a little bit of price gouging and a little bit of necessity, Ragin said
However, some students said they barely are affected by gas prices.
"I don't have a car," said ChengCheng Shang, a graduate student. "It affects me, but not that much."
However, it could still be days or weeks before refineries are able to get back to full production, bringing a corresponding drop in gasoline prices, which spiked as the storm neared refineries and made landfall early Saturday, according to a story in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Gov. Mike Beebe declared a state of emergency Friday because of gas supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Ike, which bore down on the Texas coast las weekend.
Beebe said he made the declaration to help the attorney general's office pursue anyone who participates in price-gouging, according to the 40/29 Web site.
Although prices did not rise as much as anticipated, students said they still are affected by the high gas prices.
"My hometown is in Fayetteville, and I like to visit my parents, but I can't drive out to see them" because of high gas prices, said sophomore Max Duell.
"Also, I have to use my meal plan on campus every day," he said. "I can't go anywhere else. I spend all my money on gas. I can't go out with my friends,now. We just hang out on campus."
Duell said he thinks gas companies are gouging prices and that prices could possibly be lower.
The gas "crisis" has resulted in "very long lines at the gas pump," said sophomore Xenia Ragin. "Also, it takes a whole lot more money to fill up."
Ragin said she thinks rising gas costs have been caused by weather and also have to do with the supply the gas companies have.
The prices represent a little bit of price gouging and a little bit of necessity, Ragin said
However, some students said they barely are affected by gas prices.
"I don't have a car," said ChengCheng Shang, a graduate student. "It affects me, but not that much."
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