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ATLANTA (AP) -- Motorists in parts of the Southeast are starved for gasoline.
A hurricane-induced gasoline shortage that was expected to last only a few days is dragging into its third week, and experts say it could persist into mid-October.
The Atlanta area has been hit particularly hard, along with Nashville and western North Carolina.
Those lucky enough to find gas are paying more for it than drivers elsewhere.
The shortage started with Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which shut down refineries along the Gulf Coast.
Many refineries are still making fuel at reduced levels.
The Southeast relies heavily on two pipelines from the Gulf Coast.
Because the gasoline moves slowly, it can take up to 10 days to reach Atlanta.
Panicky drivers in the hardest-hit areas often top off their tanks every time they pass an open station.
And that's made matters worse.
One gas station in downtown Atlanta had police officers and a security guard on duty Monday.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
