The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is telling motorists to go about their normal driving habits in order to stem the panic that resulted after Governor Bill Haslam’s declaration of a state of emergency in connection with an Alabama pipeline rupture. That burst pipeline Friday sparked long lines at the pumps over the weekend which resulted in many gas stations and convenient stores going dry until new deliveries could be made. This statement was from TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan on Tennessee’s Petroleum Availability: “We want to reassure Tennesseans there is petroleum available to meet the needs of consumers. Gov. Haslam’s emergency declaration issued on Friday ensures the transportation and delivery of petroleum to convenience stores and retailers in Tennessee. Tennessee’s consumers need to maintain their normal driving and fuel buying habits. If consumers fill up unnecessarily, top off their tanks when Tennessee’s consumers need to maintain their normal driving and fuel buying habits. If consumers fill up unnecessarily, top off their tanks when they aren’t close to empty, and fill multiple containers at the pumps, then our petroleum retailers will not be able to keep up with the demand of the fuel supply. Even on a normal day, Tennessee’s petroleum industry as a whole would have a difficult time keeping up with the current demands being placed on Tennessee’s fuel supply.” A check with area suppliers revealed that nearly all fuel stops had gasoline with prices ranging anywhere from $2.04 to $2.19 per gallon.