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Business & Tech

Locals Guzzle Gas as Irene Speeds Closer

With hurricane Irene's debut less than 48 hours away, locals gas up in preparations for what's to come.

Since news of the storm hitting Long Island broke, Port Jefferson and Port Jefferson Station residents have rushed to the pump to fill their tanks.

located on the corner of Route 347, across from Dunkin Donuts, is no exception to the long lines found at the pump. Being one of the "reasonably" priced stations in Port Jefferson Station doesn’t help either.

Feeling worried about power going out, and the pumps not working, Michelle Schupner, a Port Jefferson Station resident, filled up her car.

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"I had a quarter of a tank, but I filled it up, if power goes out, there is no gas. It’s better to be safe than sorry," said Schupner.

As if the thought of pumps not working wasn’t scary enough, BP’s manager Ozzy Dincer, says BP may run out of gas by tonight.

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Since Irene’s impending arrival was announced, sales on gas at BP have soared 20 percent. With the way people are filling up, "gas may run out either tonight or tomorrow," said Dincer.

Don’t be alarmed, Dincer went on to add that "BP gets a gas delivery twice a day."

While the news of gas running out doesn't sit well, the good news for consumers is gas price won't be going up before the hurricane hits, at least at BP. As Dincer put it, customers are "safe."

Even crazy gas prices wouldn’t have stopped Joe Dilone.

"I don’t care with in reason how much it is, I am filling up regardless and I will be back later with my gas containers as well," he said. "The hurricane is coming, we need to be prepared."

Some resident’s fear what is coming to Long Island, others like Denise Kahler, a resident for 6 years, isn’t too worried.

"I stocked up on items, I got gas, I’m not worried, no evacuation has been issued," she said.

While no one knows what damage Irene will do to Long Island, one thing for sure is that no one we spoke with wants to be with out gas when Irene comes on Sunday.

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