Millions in US brace for loss of electricity

Associated Press

NEW YORK

East Coast residents braced for power outages and rushed to top off their gas tanks as Hurricane Irene swept closer to the region Friday night. Power plants, refineries and pipelines prepared to shut down and utility repair crews gathered equipment to fix downed power lines.

Utility officials and forecasters say millions of people are in danger of losing electric power, some for days. Gasoline supplies are ample, although there were reports of several stations running dry on Friday. Analysts do not expect prices for power and gas to rise.

Still, the threat of Irene’s strong winds and heavy rains are buffeting the energy industry hours before the actual storm is expected to reach land.

An unusually large number of people may be affected by Irene. That’s because it is forecast to stay just offshore—and thus retain much of its power—as it inches up the coast from North Carolina to New England. When a hurricane hits land, it quickly loses steam.

On Friday, drivers in Irene’s path rushed to gas stations for a last-minute fill-up before the storm, analysts say. Gasoline demand jumped 20 to 40 percent in Mid-Atlantic states.

Several gas stations in New Jersey and in other spots along the eastern seaboard have run out of gasoline, according to OPIS.

High winds are the biggest threat to utility wires and poles. Recent heavy rains in the region have made trees even more vulnerable to toppling over.

There isn’t much a utility can do to prevent outages.