Officials continue to urge calm from residents as panic stemming from a rumored fuel shortage has led to long lines at stations across the state. 

But the problem isn’t a shortage of fuel, but extends to distribution, which has been affected by Hurricane Harvey, officials said. 

In an interview with the Texas Tribune Thursday, Ryan Sitton, commissioner of the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates gas and oil in the state, said 15 fuel refineries in the Gulf Coast area have been taken down, or are operating at a reduced capacity, due to Harvey. 

As a result of taking down refineries, Sitton said in the interview the state has seen a slight decrease in production.

However, he said there is no shortage, as there are more than 100 million barrels of gas stored in the U.S. 

Distributing the gasoline where the problem lies, as gasoline is transported via 18-wheeler trucks to gas stations across the state. 

Those trucks obtain gas at distribution terminals, which receive the fuel from refineries via pipeline or train. Sitton said two pipelines were shut down due to the hurricane. 

But rumors of potential shortages have circulated through social media and stoked panic across the state. From Dallas to San Antonio and even in Hays County, residents have rushed out to gas stations to purchase gas, leading to frustration on the part of both officials and other consumers. 

Sitton said residents should avoid rushing to gas stations to fill up and should only obtain gas if necessary. He said resupplying specific gas stations is dependent on the supply network the station is under. He said some gas stations could possibly take a few days before they are refilled. 

“As pipelines get back in shape, people will realize this isn’t as big an issue as it is today,” Sitton said in the interview. “I feel this issue is going to stem.” 

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, also issued a warning to Texas gas stations Thursday after more than 500 complaints of price gouging were made. According to a release, many of the price gouging complaints stemmed from the Dallas area, where gas stations where reportedly charging $6 to $8 per gallon. 

Hays County officials, who have also fielded concerns regarding rumors of fuel shortages and gas stations going dry, also urge residents to remain calm and only refuel if needed. 

“Please remember that in these times of unnecessary panic, when stations run out of gas due to news taken out of context or rumors, this can have a dramatic impact on our emergency crews, first responders and public works agencies as well,” according to a statement on the Hays County Office of Emergency Management’s Facebook page. 

Seeing a possible incident of price gouging? 

Victims of fraud can report it immediately by calling the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-621-0508, emailing consumeremergency@oag.texas.gov, or filing a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov. Consumers are encouraged to submit photos and photo copies of gas receipts with their complaints, if possible.