SEE VIDEO ,,,More New Yorkers got power Saturday for the first time since Superstorm Sandy struck the region, but frustrations mounted over gasoline shortages as refueling sites turned into traffic jams of horn-honking confusion.
Gas rationing went into effect in northern New Jersey, while crowds lined up at free fuel distribution sites in New York's boroughs, where a limit of 10 gallons per person was imposed. New York officials then said emergency vehicles had the priority over the public.
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"It's chaos, pandemonium out here," said Chris Damon, whose family was displaced from his home in the Queens neighborhood of Far Rockaway and are staying with relatives in Brooklyn. He circled the block for 3½ hours at the Brooklyn Armory, where the National Guard was directing traffic.
"It's ridiculous. No one knows what's going on," he said.
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had announced that the 5,000-gallon trucks from the Defense Department would set up the emergency mobile gas stations at five locations around the New York City metropolitan area.
"Do not panic. I know there is anxiety about fuel," he said.
After the long lines formed, New York state officials said the public should stay away from the refueling stations until emergency responders first got their gas and more supplies are then made available.
National Guard Col. Richard Goldenberg said Saturday afternoon that people who were already at the distribution sites would not be turned away.
But he says the priority would be giving gas to law enforcement agents, firefighters, EMTs and other emergency responders. That included gas for their personal vehicles, if necessary, so they could get to work.
A list of locations were not released, but huge crowds of people lined up at the Bronx Armory; at Union St and Bedford Ave in Crown Heights, Brooklyn; at a location in Jamaica, Queens, all desperate for gas.
The scene was more orderly in hard-hit Staten Island, where a line of cars stretched for two miles under the supervision of police and National Guard troops. Another 400 people were on foot, carrying gas cans.
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Saturday, November 3rd 2012 at 8:27PM
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