The media caused this?

I got the last drop of gas today at a gas station nearest my work. When I asked the attendant if he was going to be selling gas tomorrow he said "no". Gas would cost him $5.60 if he ordered right then and had it available for Saturday morning. He feared buying the gas and then having $5.60 gas in his tanks a few days from now when the price of gas has fallen back down.

The gas that I bought cost me $4.00. However, gas stations are selling gas for well over $4.00 in Huntsville. Some place was selling it for over $5.00 this morning. Why? The gas that was in the tanks didn't cost them more money.

Meanwhile, the media (mostly TV and radio) started talking about the price of gas this morning. I believe this excited the situation causing gas station operators to increase the price of gas. For instance, this morning one gas station was limiting the sell of gas to 10 gallons.

I'm afraid that this has caused a Streisand effect.

Why doesn't the Gov freeze the price of gas and let out some of the gas from the Strategic Reserve? Then, in a few days after the hurricane and the weekend has passed, put gas back into the Strategic Reserve and remove the freeze on gas prices.

Yes I know that's not very "limited government" of me. But then again, this is only temporary and with the intentions of avoiding the crisis that some people are already experiencing.

In my area it's hard to find a drop of gas right now. Is this not some kind of national emergency? (A couple of years ago, I recall gas stations running out of gas in my area...but I honestly can't remember why...perhaps a hurricane?).

Here's hoping that I can get down to Tuscaloosa and back on one tank of gas tomorrow.