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Published on Saturday, September 4, 2004
in the Miami Herald
Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday ordered Florida Highway Patrol troopers to escort all fuel trucks out of Port Everglades to ensure the safe delivery of gasoline to pumps around South Florida that were fast running dry.
Tanker trucks and their escorts rolled in and out of the port all day and would continue their runs ''until they run dry, or until the weather deteriorates,'' said FHP Lt. Roger Reyes.
''They've been going all over the place,'' he said. ``All over Dade. We sent three up to Fort Pierce. It's a steady flow going in and out.''
Safety of fuel is an issue because Florida is under a state of emergency, Reyes said. Florida's two main ports -- the other one is in Tampa -- are closed to tanker ships and will remain so through the storm, which means no new fuel will arrive until Sunday or later.
But even many gas stations with fuel were boarded up by Friday evening. And, windy roads or not, there was little reason to head out to the malls.
By 7 p.m., virtually every supermarket from Florida City to Deerfield Beach was closed. Home Depots were closed by 6. Retailers didn't expect to reopen, let alone restock, until the bulk of Hurricane Frances was past.
''Plywood's gone. Generators haven't been available for a few days now,'' said Don Harrison, spokesman for The Home Depot stores, which will reopen at the discretion of local managers.
''You're going to have to ask Hurricane Frances,'' he said. ``The next move's up to her.''
Publix and Winn-Dixie stores generally closed at 5 p.m. across South Florida, although Winn-Dixie kept Miami-Dade stores open until 7. Publix stores will remain closed today and won't reopen until winds dip below tropical-storm force -- 39 mph -- and trucks can safely roll. Winn-Dixie stores were slated to open this morning as weather and evacuation plans permitted.
''Even at this point, we are trying very hard to get trucks to our stores to replenish them now, as long as the stores are open, to keep the supplies going,'' said Kathy Lussier, spokeswoman for Winn-Dixie in Jacksonville.
Publix trucks, already loaded with nonperishables, are poised to move as soon as the weather permits, said Maria Rodamis, a company spokeswoman.
A Publix store in the Fort Lauderdale community of Riverland had lots of water and ice but virtually no batteries, bread or charcoal.
At the Publix at Knob Hill Road and Cleary Boulevard in Plantation, the longest lines were at the deli counter.
''We got luncheon meat,'' said shopper Carolyn Barr, an assistant professor at Broward Community College. ``We figured we would have a little more time with power.''
Around the region Friday, scattered drivers flocked to the few open service stations. And they were few.
On Pine Island Road in Broward on Friday afternoon, every station from Broward Boulevard to Atlantic Boulevard appeared to be closed.
At one open station on Alton Road in South Beach, cars lined up several deep and gas still flowed, albeit slowly.
Bush moved Friday to ensure prompt and safe delivery of new fuel. Because both of Florida's major ports remained closed to incoming ships, there will be no new fuel deliveries arriving until the storm has subsided.
Home-improvement stores, like most supermarkets, were mostly shuttered by Friday evening.
A Home Depot on Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines closed at 2 p.m. Friday. Officials at Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse at 6600 Dykes Road said the store might reopen today if the weather permits. The store closed shortly after 1:30 p.m. Friday, though customers still streamed out with carts full of last-minute supplies.
Harrison, the Home Depot spokesman, said stores might reopen Sunday morning in Broward and Dade if Frances stays on track.
With the prestorm jitters easing up a bit, some shoppers turned their attention from essential supplies to other priorities.
Jose Peņa went surfing Friday morning, then ducked into the M.B. Liquor store on Miami Beach. He was not seeking water.
''Where's the champagne?'' he asked. ``It's my eighth anniversary tomorrow. I better bring back the champagne, or I'm in trouble.''
Herald staff writers Wanda J. DeMarzo, Kevin Deutsch, Matt Prichard and Nicole White contributed to this report.