Sep. 26--Motorists lined up early Thursday at gas pumps across Statesville in an effort to fill their tanks as fuel supplies ran low across Iredell County.

Although Gov. Mike Easley promised more gas was on the way to western North Carolina, several local retailers said they were unsure when new shipments would arrive.

Cathie Clarkson, who lives in Charlotte, stopped in Statesville while returning from a trip to Hickory.

After stopping at three gas stations along the interstate, she finally found what she was looking for at the Shell on Broad Street, which had a line spilling out onto the street.

"We were worried we wouldn't be able to get gas when we get home," she said.

After running out of gas earlier, the station received nearly 3,000 gallons Thursday. Management put a $40 cap on each gas purchase.

The station has implemented a set rules for purchasing gas. Consumers are required to pay inside and provide identification when using a credit card.

Shell employee John Williams said they put a cap on the gas because they wanted to stretch their supplies out as long as possible.

"We're trying to conserve gas," he said.

Clarkson said she doesn't understand why North Carolina has been hit by the gas shortage.

"It's ridiculous," she said. "Other states have gas and we don't."

The governor's office said the gas shortage was caused by refinery shutdowns during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Rural areas of North Carolina that have more independently-owned gas stations have been hit the hardest because the independent stations typically do not have long-term contracts for gasoline delivery.

Easley said Wednesday that additional gasoline supplies have been released to North Carolina.

"The major oil companies have agreed to make additional gas supplies available to hard hit areas of our state, particularly western North Carolina," Easley said in a press release. "We are getting tankers from Wilmington, Tennessee and South Carolina terminals to bring hundreds of thousands of gallons of gas to those most in need."

The shipments couldn't arrive soon enough for stations -- and motorists -- throughout Iredell.

In Troutman, Four Brothers on North Main, The Pantry on Main Street and Village Mart on North Main were all out of gas.

The same was true in Statesville at Petro Express and Wilco Hess on Turnersburg Highway, Citgo on Broad Street, and Sheetz and Shell on Wilkesboro Highway.

In Mooresville, the Kangaroo Express stores on South Main and North Main, Fast Phil's on Brawley School Road, Hess on Highway 150, Accel on 150, and Lake Norman BP all reported they were out of gas.

Statesville resident Gloria Boone said the shortage could be traced to politics -- "especially with the elections coming. "

But "I'm not too worried about it," she added. "God is in control."

Justin Campbell, 18, who lives in Statesville and attends school in Mooresville, stopped at two gas stations before finding the BP on Broad Street had gas.

"I'd like to know where it's going," he said. "It's not like everyone is using more than we normally use."

As an automotive student, Campbell said he knows there are other forms of fuel that can be used.

"I would definitely like to see alternative fuel being used," he said. "The technology is out there."

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