Tampa Bay’s pre-Milton gas frenzy began in earnest yesterday, causing long lines, major shortages and desperation not seen in years.

Brian and Susan Mowll drove off Interstate 75 repeatedly yesterday on their way to Tampa International Airport, only to find handles covered in yellow plastic bags and telltale words on the screen: “Pump stopped.” In small towns north of Tampa Bay, the lines stretched a mile away.

Hundreds of thousands of Tampa Bay residents have been ordered to evacuate, including more than half of Pinellas County’s population. Traffic along major highways has come to a standstill, putting much more strain on gas supplies than during Hurricane Helene, when shortages were blissfully rare.

About 100 gas stations in Tampa Bay were out of gas on Wednesday, among nearly 300 tracked by GasBuddy, a service that maps outages across the country. Statewide, about 1,250 gas stations were out of gas.

The Port of Tampa has plenty of fuel, state officials said. But demand has emptied gas stations faster than supplies can be replenished. Governor Ron DeSantis said the Florida Highway Patrol escorted 27 fuel trucks to gas stations Monday evening.

But those evacuating or filling cans to fuel backup generators can avoid hitting the pump. Below you will find some tips from Patrick De Haan, petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.

Where should I look for gasoline?

Major travel stops such as Wawa, Pilot Flying J and Buc-ee’s typically have larger reservoirs under the pump, making the gas supply last longer, De Haan said.

Gas stations associated with stores like Walmart, Costco and Sam’s Club also tend to have more inventory, he said.

If you’re driving along the highway, try to avoid stations near an exit, De Haan said. See if there are any travel stops or major stations further into the city.

When should I try to get gas?

If a gas station is open 24 hours a day, new shipments usually arrive early in the morning, says De Haan. Arriving early, between 4am and 6am, may be your best bet.

For places that close at night, it’s wise to arrive around opening time, he said.

Start looking for gas at a quarter tank, and not when the low fuel light comes on, De Haan said. And use tracking apps to avoid repeated breakdowns and wasted even more gas.

How can I track disruptions?

GasBuddy has an app and website that allows drivers to report malfunctions when they encounter them. Users can see if stations have regular fuel, diesel and electricity. GasBuddy detects disruptions by crowdsourcing information from consumers.

Consumers should look for the stations that have recent data. After a few hours, that data may no longer be as reliable, De Haan said.

When was the last time this happened?

The last time Tampa Bay experienced widespread shortages was in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, which hit the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 storm in 2018, De Haan said.

A week after Michael made landfall, approximately 60% of Panama City stations were out of fuel. According to a GasBuddy analysis, stations took longer to fill due to the devastation Panama City faced.

The rapid increase in outages leading up to Milton’s landfall mirrors what happened during Hurricane Irma in 2017. In Gainesville, for example, more than 60% of gas stations were out of service the day before the storm hit.

But the recovery came faster. Three days after the storm, 40% of stations were still out of gas. A week after Irma, only 15% of Gainesville’s stations were down.

What will the gas situation look like after Milton strikes?

How quickly gas supplies come back online depends on how well Port Tampa Bay fares, De Haan said. Damage to critical infrastructure or gridlocks along shipping channels can slow the supply chain.

“Port Tampa will literally be one of the first things on land to be hit,” he said.

Petroleum tankers are stored directly in the port. If these tankers flood, shortages could arise in the longer term.

DeSantis said the state is operating as if the port will suffer “significant damage.” State officials are seeking alternate routes for fuel transportation if there is “significant disruption” at the port, he said.

Port Tampa Bay spokesperson Lisa Wolf-Chason said the port’s petroleum tenants have protections around their facilities. A canal-like barrier stops some flooding. Flood water that surfaces washes into a ditch beneath the tankers. The tankers are also filled with enough fuel so they won’t float away if they become flooded, she said.

For the time being, the port is closed to incoming and outgoing ships. On land, trucks will continue to load gasoline until hours or minutes before the storm hits, Wolf-Chason said.

There are a number of potential obstacles that could delay the port’s reopening. Debris can clog shipping channels, or incorrectly placed buoys can compromise navigation.

If everything remains intact, fuel shortages should disappear as soon as Saturday or Sunday, De Haan said.

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.