Behind New York Gas Lines, Warnings and Crossed Fingers

Image: On Friday, the first day of gas rationing in New York City, a van without gas had to be pushed to a Hess station in Brooklyn.

submitted by Mike Kraft

nytimes.com - November 9th, 2012 - David W. Chen, Winnie Hu, Clifford Krauss

The return of 1970s-era gas lines to the five boroughs of New York City was not the result of a single miscalculation, but a combination of missed opportunities, ignored warnings and a lack of decisiveness by city and state officials that produced a deepening crisis and a sense of frustration.

Even before Hurricane Sandy came ashore, city and state officials moved quickly to shut down a sprawling transit system and order mass evacuations. But heading off a potential gas shortage seemed to be a low priority, if one at all, according to government officials, industry experts and gas station owners.

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