Gas Rationing because of Hurricane Katrina?-Fiction!

Gas Rationing is Planned in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor
This is an email that started shortly after Hurricane Katrina in the United States saying that an oil refinery called together the employees and told them to keep their tanks full because gas rationing will be starting soon.

The Truth
TruthOrFiction.com has not found any substantiation for this story.
It is written in the unconvincing way of false eRumors.
At the time that it started circulating, almost immediately after Hurricane Katrina, there had not been enough assessment of the impact of the Hurricane on American oil supplies to have predicted whether rationing would be necessary or whether the President would authorize dipping into U.S. oil reserves. There was some short term localized gas rationing after the hurricanes but nothing on a national scale.
It is the kind of email that seems to get started after a disaster but for which there is no documented source, no specific details as to which employees at which refinery were told this or who originated the email.

Last updated 9/1/05

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

A friend of mine who works for one of the local refineries told me that the management called the entire plant together last night and told them all to spread the word to their friends and family to keep their gas tanks on FULL because gas rationing will be starting sometime in the near future. This is due to the fact that they can't keep up with demand (especially from the SUV crowd and their larger tanks) and now with Katrina. It has been recommended to not let your gas tank level get below one-half tank; keep it topped off.

Remember we had gas rationing back in1974? Back then, you were only allowed to fill up or get gas based on designated days according to your odd / even license plates. Well, that's exactly what is going to be happening. This is just a heads up.”