Gas lines were long at the Rome Kroger and at the Kangaroo at Five Points on Thursday night because of concerns of possible rising fuel prices and potential shortages because of Hurricane Ike swirling in the Gulf of Mexico.
A line was also reported at John's Grocery on Kingston Road.
Maria Lee was at Kroger with her husband Gordon. She said she saw online that gas prices could jump significantly on Friday.
Worries about a possible gasoline shortage have some convenience stores in the area asking drivers to limit gasoline purchases as a precautionary measure.
A sign on the Kangaroo across from Georgia Highlands College on U.S. 27 south reads:
Due to limited gasoline supplies, we ask that our customers limit their gasoline purchases to 10 gallons per transaction. This request will allow us to provide gasoline for all our valued customers during this time of limited supply in the southeastern United States.
A Kangaroo manager said the move is being made as a precaution because many Gulf of Mexico refineries often close down during hazardous weather.
Local wholesalers say that the evacuation of the Gulf coast usually means that refineries also close down, sometimes causing a shortage at gas stations and convenience stores.
Melissa Anderson, senior vice president of human resources and government relations for Kangaroo said the request is a "proactive approach of managing our supply in response to the Texas oil refineries shutting down due to Hurricane Ike."
"We are unsure how long it will last, but we will continue to monitor supply and make decisions on a day-to-day basis," Anderson said.
She said similar signs were posted during Hurricane Katrina.
Kangaroo operates 143 stores across the state and nine in the Rome-Floyd County area.
"We haven't had a lot of complaints, but we have had a lot of people call and ask what's going on," Anderson said.
Some Golden Gallon stores have issued similar requests to limit gas.
Kmart Express, Wal-Mart and local Favorite Markets have not posted any signs.
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