By Times staff writers
Published September 3, 2004
Gasoline supplies could get tight due to recent heavy demand and the closure of Tampa's port Thursday. Virtually all the gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel for West and Central Florida is shipped into the port and transported to retailers in tanker trucks and pipelines.
The Coast Guard closed the port to inbound ships at 5 p.m. Thursday, except for a few that could discharge loads and leave the port before 5 p.m. today. At that time, the port will be closed to all outbound vessels.
Gasoline wholesalers at ports must keep huge storage tanks relatively full to prevent them from collapsing in the storm and spilling gas. At some point, they stop selling gas to retailers.
Florida residents have been warned to keep their vehicle tanks full as part of hurricane precautions. Also, many drivers filled up in the last few days as the monthlong 8-cent-per-gallon tax break came to an end.
Juno Beach utility may shut down nuclear plants
Florida Power & Light of Juno Beach said it is considering shutting down its nuclear power plants in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Frances.
FPL spokeswoman Rachel Scott said it was the company's policy to shut down its nuclear plants two hours before the projected arrival of hurricane-force winds. Controlled, 11-hour-long shutdowns of the plants could begin sometime today, she said.
The company operates two 693-megawatt generating units at its Turkey Point nuclear plant on Biscayne Bay, 24 miles south of Miami, and two 839-megawatt generating units at its St. Lucie nuclear plant on Hutchinson Island near Fort Pierce.
Meanwhile, Progress Energy Florida spokesman Mac Harris said it was too early to determine whether the St. Petersburg utility would have to shut down an 838-megawatt nuclear generating unit at its Crystal River power station.
Harris said FPL's nuclear plants were in "a completely different situation" given their proximity to where Frances is expected to make landfall.
Charley fund to accept money for Frances victims
The Hurricane Charley Relief Fund, established by Gov. Jeb Bush last month and headed by former U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, will accept donations next week for rebuilding after Hurricane Frances.
The group launched a new Web site, www.flahurricanefund.org and scheduled meetings for next week.
"Hopefully we won't get hit by Frances, but if we do we're ready," said Steve Uhlfelder, a Tallahassee lawyer and the fund's chief executive.
The announcement came the same day the group unveiled how it will distribute money collected for Hurricane Charley relief, currently at $4-million.
The Charley fund will distribute the money to 10 counties hit by Charley: Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Lee, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia.
Staff writers Joni James, Steve Huettel and Lou Hau contributed to this report.
