Florida is opening “public fuel distribution sites” where motorists can get 10 gallons of free gasoline as parts of the state — including Charlotte County and Sarasota County — see widespread fuel shortages and gas station closures after Hurricane Milton.
The two sites are opened in Charlotte and Sarasota counties include Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte; and Suncoast Technical College-North Port, 4445 Career Lane.
Charlotte Sports Park’s site is opened from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; STC-North Port opens at 10 a.m. and stays open until 7 p.m.
Charlotte County officials said the Charlotte Sports Park facility would be opened “until further notice.”
The lines were long at North Port’s STC, but any impatience seemed to be confined within vehicles.
A lengthy line wrapped around the STC-North Port building and even curled through the college parking lot with hundreds of drivers waited for their car’s free 10 gallons.
On Sunday afternoon, it was a two-hour wait.
Paula Bradford said she was sat in her car for about that long as she approached the shiny silver fuel trucks.