The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has reported fuel contamination could impact residents who are evacuating from Florida’s coast.
FDACS reported fuel contamination has occurred at dozens of gas stations that were serviced by the Port of Tampa.
In a press release, FDACS revealed, “Any fuel purchased after 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, at stations supplied by Citgo from the Port of Tampa has a strong likelihood of being contaminated with diesel fuel.”
Governor Ron DeSantis also weighed in on the situation and stated the fuel contamination stemmed from a human error.
DeSantis further explained, “They put diesel in tanks that were supposed to be regular gas.”
Wide Spread Fuel Contamination in Florida. Hours before Hurricane Idalia makes landfall @CITGO distributed millions of gallons of gasoline contaminated with diesel leaving vehicles & generators inoperable. Affected gas stations lie dead center to the hurricane projected path. pic.twitter.com/3BhRCgRIbr
— Matt Gambone (@Matt_Gambone) August 29, 2023
Per Fox Weather:
As Florida Gulf Coast residents prepare for Hurricane Idalia’s arrival and life-threatening impacts, state officials report gas distributed from the Port of Tampa was contaminated, possibly impacting drivers in Southwest Florida.
Over the weekend, Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) officials learned about fuel contaminations at gas stations serviced by the Port of Tampa.
“FDACS has identified a potentially widespread fuel contamination caused by human error at the Port of Tampa,” the state agency said in a statement. “Any fuel purchased after 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, at stations supplied by Citgo from the Port of Tampa has a strong likelihood of being contaminated with diesel fuel.”
Here’s the list of gas stations impacted:
UPDATE: FDACS Identifies Potential Fuel Contamination at the Port of Tampa.
Fuel purchased after 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, at the following stations has a strong likelihood of being contaminated.
Learn More: https://t.co/AKO2mC0PH6 pic.twitter.com/SiPix8ZOEI
— Florida Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (@FDACS) August 27, 2023
Some areas of Florida are already facing major flooding as Hurricane Idalia starts to make landfall.
WATCH:
WATCH 🚨 Flood in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, as Hurricane Idalia approaches the Gulf Coast#Flooding #fortmyersbeach #Idalia #HurricaneIdalia
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 29, 2023
Idalia is currently a Category 2 hurricane and still intensifying over the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane Idalia is expected to make landfall along the west coast of Florida as a Category 3 storm.
Idalia forecast cone