Congressmen Diaz-Balart and Wexler Disappointed by Oil Industry for Failing S. Fla. in Wilma Aftermath

Congressmen Diaz-Balart and Wexler Disappointed by Oil Industry for Failing S. Fla. in Wilma Aftermath

WASHINGTON--Today, Congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and Robert Wexler (D-FL) sent a letter to Exxon Mobil, Shell Oil Company, Chevron Phillips, ConocoPhillips, BP, and Amerada Hess Corporation expressing extreme disappointment with their lack of preparedness for Hurricane Wilma and the disruption in the immediate aftermath to the oil services in South Florida. Diaz-Balart and Wexler find it inexcusable and irresponsible that gas stations in the South Florida region were not equipped with electric generators to deal with power outages, which in turn caused extreme gridlock at the pump forcing residents to wait in lines for hours and to then only be allowed to purchase $20 in gas - leaving Floridians with barely enough gas to return home. In addition, tens of thousands of residents stood in long lines for hours waiting for essential supplies such as water, ice and tarps; and were unable to receive these supplies immediately due to the inability of hurricane relief workers to obtain gasoline in order to get these supplies to distribution sites.

Diaz-Balart and Wexler are demanding at a minimum that the oil industry make the following changes: supply each franchised gas station with an independent electric generator, ensuring that fuel is capable of being dispensed in times of emergency and hurricane relief workers receive the necessary fuel. After a treacherous season of hurricanes in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, it is incumbent that the oil industry heeds these warnings.

(Please find below a copy of the letter)

We are writing to you today to express our extreme disappointment with the failure of Exxon Mobil Corporation to adequately prepare for the potential damage and disruption to oil and gas services that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma. We find it inexcusable and irresponsible that gas stations in the South Florida region were not equipped with electric generators to deal with power outages, which in turn caused extreme gridlock at the pump forcing residents to wait in lines for hours and to then only be allowed to purchase $20 in gas - leaving residents with barely enough gas to return home. After Hurricane Wilma devastated South Florida, the capacity of hurricane relief workers to deliver essential supplies such as water, ice and tarps to the hardest hit citizens was greatly hampered by the inability to obtain gasoline at local stations.

While power outages affected the whole state, it is inexcusable that gasoline stations in the South Florida region and throughout the country as a whole are not supplied with the necessary equipment to deal with a severe power outage. Gasoline stations are a critical part of our nation's transportation infrastructure and, as such, are expected to be operational in times of crisis. The failure to adequately prepare for such an emergency situation as what occurred after Wilma indicates a serious disregard for corporate responsibility, particularly in comparison to many other vital industries that had contingency plans in place. While major supermarkets, drugstores and retail establishments were capable of being open to the public, it is shocking that Exxon Mobil Corporation was incapable of providing essential gasoline services.

As you know, record high oil and gas industry profits, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, have led to a Congressional investigation into price gauging. While your company recording record profits, we strongly call upon you to take the necessary steps to ensure that such a disruption of service never takes place again. Among the simple steps that could be taken would be supplying each of your franchised stations with electric generators. This should be part of the agreement between the parent company and franchisees-in the same manner that your company takes responsibility to provide these stations with the fuel for them to distribute, you should also be responsible for ensuring that these essential fuels are capable of being dispensed in times of emergency. It is incumbent upon your company to live up to the responsibility you have as a supplier of our nation's fuel, and begin to take the necessary steps to ensure that our ability to respond to a crisis is never hampered like this in the future.

In short, the health and well being of Floridians have been jeopardized by the failure of the oil and gas industry to properly plan for the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma. This is totally inexcusable, and we expect that Exxon Mobil Corporation will work expeditiously to rectify this problem before another disaster strikes. We look forward to your timely response.

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