71 percent of gas stations in Charlotte area out of fuel

Seventy-one percent of gas stations in the Charlotte, N.C., area are experiencing shortages of fuel after a cyberattack on a major pipeline last week, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Charlotte is one of several cities in North Carolina that are experiencing gas shortages, according to GasBuddy, which tracks gas prices across the country.

Fears of a shortage appear to be leading more people to buy gas, exacerbating the problem, according to some anecdotal reports.

Local school districts in the metro area are also watching the current situation closely. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokesman Brian Hacker told the Observer that they are in contact with their suppliers daily and are continuing to get fuel.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) issued a state of emergency on Monday, saying doing so would prepare the state for fuel supply interruptions and ensure motorists are able to have access to fuel. 

Cooper also talked with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and other federal officials on Tuesday about the situation, saying in a tweet, “We have a full court press to get the Colonial Pipeline back up and fully operating quickly.”

Colonial Pipeline experienced a cyberattack on its energy infrastructure on Friday, forcing it to shut down 5,500 miles of pipeline to contain the breach. A number of states in the Southeast are experiencing gas shortages.