Storm Alert – October 11, 2024 – Hurricane Milton

Mansfield’s thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by Hurricane Milton. As communities navigate the aftermath, we wish you a swift recovery and stand ready to support you during this difficult time. 

Damage assessments continue around Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Efforts are ongoing to remove floodwater and restore power to Tampa terminals, with hopes for a return to operations this weekend.

So far, Orlando terminals are back online, but supply is extremely tight. Resupply efforts rely heavily on the pipeline from Tampa coming back online. There has been little change in the number of power outages, with well over 3 million homes and businesses (including fuel terminals) still without power.

According to GasBuddy data, nearly one in four Florida retail stations was offline as of this morning, lacking either power or fuel after evacuations. OPIS reported an even higher number of retail station outages, with 4,000 out of 7,500 total retail stations not reporting prices. Retail outages highlight the importance of having a dedicated fuel support program after a storm to ensure both equipment and employees can continue to stay in motion.

On a positive note, fuel terminals outside of Tampa and Orlando are springing back into action now that heavy winds have passed. Terminals in the Florida Panhandle, Jacksonville, Port Everglades, and Ft Lauderdale are back in operation and loading fuel. Mansfield is optimistic, with trucks already loading fuel in the areas where terminals are open.

Mansfield remains on Code Blue and is unable to make deliveries or commit to delivery ETAs for the Orlando and Tampa markets due to numerous road closures, power outages, and terminal closures. We are actively working to arrange deliveries into these markets and will move off Code Blue as soon as market conditions allow. Code Red (72-hour notice) is still in effect for the rest of the state. Southern Georgia remains on Code Orange, requesting 48-hour notice for new deliveries.

Now that the storm has passed, communication is critical. Please contact your Mansfield representative to let them know of any damage, changes in site hours, fuel equipment issues, fuel contamination, or any other challenges that may impact your ability to receive fuel deliveries. 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.