Florida is opening “public fuel distribution sites” where motorists can get 10 gallons of free gasoline as parts of the state — including Tampa Bay and Sarasota — see widespread fuel shortages and gas station closures after Hurricane Milton.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said public fuel sites have opened in Plant City east of Tampa at Plant City Stadium, St. Petersburg (800 1st Ave. South) and Bradenton (280 Kay Road).
They will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
He said additional state-run fuel depots will likely open in Sarasota and another location in Southwest Florida, at another Pinellas County location as well as in Tampa.
“These are free people. You get 10 gallons per customer,” DeSantis said.
On Friday, 78% of gas stations in the Tampa Bay area were out of gas, according to GasBuddy.com.
In Sarasota, 62% of service stations were out of commission and that number stands at 30% statewide.
DeSantis said some gas stations are shut down because they don’t have power to run pumps. Others are out of gas.