Volunteers headed to Gulf Coast
Photo by Eric Keith / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo
Larry Payne was on his way to Baton Rouge, La., Thursday morning with an American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle in case Tropical Storm Gustav makes landfall nearby.
At the lunch hour Thursday, Bill Newcamp pulled up to the gas pumps at the Downtown City Star to head off to Tropical Storm Gustav.
“It’s supposed to hit Monday, so I’m filling before,” Mr. Newcamp, of Atchison, Kan., said, as he pumped $40 into his 1996 Pontiac Grand Am.
Minutes later, the station’s manager Ravinder Singh pulled up to fill his 2004 Nissan Altima. He clucked disapprovingly at the station’s sign advertising $3.54 a gallon for unleaded fuel.
“Everybody changed last night,” he said, referring to other gas stations in St.
Joseph. Within an hour, the price was changed to $3.55.
Ahead of the Labor Day weekend, the national fall in gasoline prices may reverse if Tropical Storm Gustav hits.
Mike Wright, a spokesman with AAA Missouri, said if Gustav strengthens into a hurricane as it enters the Gulf of Mexico it could affect offshore oil production.
“There is anxiety in the markets right now, and anytime there is anxiety the prices goes up,” Mr. Wright said. Early Thursday morning, he said Missouri motorists enjoyed $3.42 a gallon, but by afternoon he was getting reports of an upshift.
The possible threat from Gustav has sprung local emergency services to ready volunteers and supplies.
On Thursday morning, the Midland Empire Chapter of the American Red Cross sent three volunteers and two feeding trucks to stage in Baton Rouge, La. Two semi-trucks loaded with kitchen supplies were also shipped to Texas from the Red Cross warehouse in St. Joseph
Karla Long, emergency services director for the local chapter, said another 12 volunteers may fly south as soon as today or Saturday.
“This has the potential to be a very devastating major storm for the Gulf states,” Ms. Long said of Gustav, which she said could develop into a category 3 or 4 storm as it passes over warm waters to gulf coast Mississippi or Louisiana.
“They’re still in the recovery phase from (Hurricane) Katrina so to be hit with a significant storm three years later is a pretty significant deal.”
Ahmad Safi can be reached
at ahmadsafi@npgco.com.
This story has 6 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
Story Tools
Hyperlink Legend
E-mail story
Print friendly version
iPod friendly version
Today's Top Headlines
Smurfit-Stone workers strike
Law enforcement officers discount 'Mexican mafia initiation'
Stabbing details come to light
Number of homeless students on the rise
Longtime Christmas tree salesman remembered
- More Headlines
- Recently Discussed
Good. That's what we get. I hope every single drill and refinery are destroyed beyond repair.
We'll all cry and whine about how America was crippled by a single damn hurricane.
When we allow ourselves into a position to be crippled by any one thing we deserve to have our knees broken.
Posted by devinbroncs123 on August 29, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)WTF. We gotta do what we gotta do. Crippled? Do you even know what you're saying? There is oil there and we need it. Plain and simple. The idiots are the people who live in New Orleans. YOU ARE BELOW SEA LEVEL! HELLO!!!! Knocking on your hollow head! Get the heck out of there. I mean how good could it be to want to live there. Did you not learn the first time? I know some may not have a choice. But still. Relocate the city. Destroy it and relocate. Stop wasting money. YOU ARE IN HURRICANE ALLEY!
K I am done venting. I just don't get it.
Posted by azmaggie on August 29, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)Maybe they are staying there to get more Goverment money! A lot came out with a better life last time! Some really lost but some are better now than ever!!!
Posted by MichaelH on August 29, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)If we are crippled with an oil crisis we will be FORCED to deal with the fact that WE DON'T HAVE AN ENERGY PLAN TO COMPENSATE FOR OIL WE DONT HAVE.
We use 25% of the worlds oil reserves - WE ONLY POSSESS 3% OF THE WORLDS OIL RESERVES. DO THE MATH - We need to end our dependance on oil.
I'm all for a legitimate plan to make the transition away from oil gradual, BUT APPARENTLY THAT DIDN'T WORK. WE DID IT IN THE 1970s. LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE, ONCE AGAIN!
Get over it. I hope that hurricane destroys every oil-related piece of equipment in the Gulf. I hope gas prices go to $250+ a barrel with consumer prices at around $9-$10 a gallon.
Do you see another way?
www.PickensPlan.com
Posted by MichaelH on August 29, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)Didn't mean to yell at ya buddy, lol. Just wanted passing eyes to see the caps and maybe they would read it and take something positive away from it.
Consider it marketing!
Posted by lam042665 on August 30, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)I am appalled by the comments posted by azmaggie! Have you been to New Orleans since Katrina? People lost everything...their homes, their jobs and loved ones. The city and the people who have lived here their entire lives are trying to rebuild. How dare you think they came back for government money or that their lives are so much better now. Three years later, half of the residents still have not received any government money and some are STILL living in FEMA trailers. Shame on you for your ignorance and lack of compassion!
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them.
Rules: We don't allow comments that degrade others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Epithets, abusive language and obscene comments will not be tolerated... nor will defamation. Brief quotes are okay as long as the source is given. Blatent cutting and pasting is not acceptable.Robust, even heated debate we like. Straying off-topic or flaming, we don't. Please read our user agreement.
Requires free stjoenews.net registration.