Storm Alert – September 28, 2024 – Post Tropical Cyclone Helene

As remnants of Helene continue dumping rain across the Ohio Valley region, markets farther south are still recovering. It’s normal for a hurricane to leave power outages in coastal areas – but Helene has been unusually devastating throughout the eastern US. According to poweroutage.us, states as far north as Virginia, Kentucky, and even Ohio are experiencing widespread power outages. Over a million power customers in South Carolina alone are still without power, as are millions more across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Fuel markets continue reacting to Helene’s damage. Florida markets are slowly reopening, though some terminals remain in the process of coming online. Fuel terminals in North Augusta, SC are still completely without power, and other markets are only partially open. In many areas, a handful of local terminals are open while others remain shut, creating bottlenecks for fuel logistics. Long lines at the open racks delay deliveries and tie up local trucking capacity, creating a ripple effect for all fuel buyers. Spartanburg and Roanoke are two markets operating at limited capacity.

Road conditions are another factor impacting delivery operations. Flooding can make some roads unnavigable, requiring increased delivery time. In other areas, such as a bridge in Greene County, TN, that was washed away, the roads are severely damaged and will require repairs.

Florida (excluding Pt Everglade and surrounding markets) remains on Code Red, requiring a 72-hour lead time for delivery requests. Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina are on Code Orange, with a 48-hour lead time requested for new orders. With the heavy rains and flooding, ensure your fuel tanks are free of water to prevent any damage or operational issues. For more information on post-storm recommendations, check out our What to Do After the Storm FUELSNews guide.