Something Broke

Last September, there was a shortage of gas in the Southeast. There was a hurricane, and damaged pipelines and a lack of backup storage due to the switch from summer to winter grade fuel combined with the economic climate to create the perfect storm for a gas shortage. One morning I woke and turned on the news to see that my bank, Wachovia, was collapsing (or so the news reported at the time). I called my father to ask what I should do with my money. We talked for a bit and he asked if I was still visiting home this weekend. I told him no, probably not, since there was no gas in town. A friend's car was empty by this time, so three of us walked to the nearest gas stations with an empty can only to find them empty. Everyone was calling and texting friends from various neighborhoods, trying to find gas. The best we ever got were rumors. Lines at the stations that were open all filled with more cars than the stations could handle and most stations would only stay stocked for a day at best. I had to call out of work, which required a commute, and spent a few days walking to the store and school before I found a station near my house with gas (which was gouged to a full dollar over what the price should have been). I filled up and by the time I was out again the stations had been re-supplied. I was lucky.

It took three days for police to stop patrolling for parking ticket violations. Three days before the first bits of order started to chip away from society.