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Gov. Scott: Take only as much fuel as you need

Posted at 9:19 AM, Sep 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-07 12:53:55-04

Gov. Rick Scott gave briefings and held media availabilities Thursday in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties about Hurricane Irma.

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A news conference was held at about 9:30 a.m. at the Hialeah Emergency Management Center. 

Scott is urging all gas stations in Florida to stay open as long as possible to accommodate evacuees.

Scott said at a midday Thursday news conference in Palm Beach County that police escorts will get gas station employees out safely if necessary just ahead of Hurricane Irma.

He says authorities are already escorting fuel tankers through traffic and to gas stations as quickly as possible.

Scott says all of the state's ports are still operating, bringing in fuel and supplies.

He urged residents to take only as much gas as they need to make sure there is enough for everyone who needs it.

Scott says the state is doing all it can to relieve fuel shortages and traffic jams to keep people evacuating ahead of Hurricane Irma.

Scott is acknowledging that empty pumps, long lines and crowded highways are "frustrating" for Floridians. But he says his administration is working with federal authorities and other states to move as much gas into Florida as they can.

This includes having the Florida Highway Patrol escort fuel trucks through any traffic.

Florida Highway Safety spokeswoman Beth Frady says troopers escorted trucks from two Florida ports to stations in Marion and Martin counties overnight, and also were escorting trucks from Georgia to stations in Perry, in north central Florida near where Interstate 75 crosses Interstate 10.