GasBuddy.com: More than half of Tallahassee stations out of gas

In Tallahassee, plastic bag covered pumps and dim marquees signal exhausted gasoline supplies following Hurricane Irma's destructive path across Florida. And the gas shortage may persist for days.

GasBuddy.com — a smartphone app that uses crowdsourcing information to help drivers with prices and station locations — said 51 percent of Tallahassee's gas stations were experiencing shortages as of 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. It was 61 percent of as of 6:20 p.m. Monday.

"Florida gas stations in West Palm Beach, Miami, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Naples, Tallahassee and Tampa are beginning to replenish their fuel supplies," the website said. "Georgia is seeing increases to fuel consumption as Floridians begin to make their way back home, putting a strain on many gas stations to keep the fuel flowing as Irma moves through Georgia and Alabama."

More: Hurricane-ravaged ports leave Florida fuel tight

Gov Scott: Rescue operations underway in Jacksonville, gas stations being replenished

Weakened Irma still knocked Tallahassee for a loop

Some Irma evacuees from South and Central Florida found refuge in Tallahassee. Many are still here and will need to refuel before heading back to their storm battered hometowns. Other evacuees drove to Georgia, Alabama and elsewhere to escape Irma and will return only to find gas shortages for the long ride home.

"Supplies are tight right now," AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said. "As you're traveling, you want to pay attention to what’s out there."

Jenkins, who couldn't confirm or deny information supplied by GasBuddy, said several ports shut down statewide, including Port Miami, Port Tampa and Port Jacksonville, the closest gas supply to Tallahassee.

Supplies could take at least a week to reach the Tallahassee area, causing more strain for evacuees and residents hunting for gas. It's a "tug of war" on supplies, Jenkins said, adding he recommends motorists not wait until tanks fall to a quarter tank while traveling back.

The state average gas price is $2.71 compared to Tallahassee's $2.70. Although prices at the pump shot up before Irma's arrival and in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey's assault on Texas, they are expected to fall in Florida.

"As the state gets resupplied and back to normal," Jenkins said, "we should see a strong dip in gas prices."

In addition to gasoline supplies, retailers in Tallahassee and statewide race to stock stores following Irma. Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens said the Lakeland-based company is focused on recovery efforts.

"This storm was more than a Florida event; it was and is a southeastern United States effort," he said. "Please be assured your neighborhood Publix will always be focused on serving its customers and communities in the best possible way. Trucks are making multiple deliveries daily along with our supplier partners to provide the products our customers need and demand to serve themselves and their families."

Contact TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com or follow @TaMarynWaters on Twitter.