Gas Stations Receiving Fresh Fuel Shipments in Eastern US
Recently, the Colonial Pipeline’s temporary shutdown caused a surge in gasoline prices and widespread panic buying. This situation particularly affected gas stations in the eastern and southeastern US, which heavily rely on the pipeline for fuel supply. After the cyberattack that led to the closure, Colonial Pipeline quickly implemented a recovery plan, and now the pipeline is in the process of reopening.
Several gas stations nationwide have already started getting new fuel deliveries from the pipeline. Nevertheless, due to the significant impact on many stations, not all have been resupplied yet. In the southeast, where panic buying was most intense, numerous stations are still facing fuel shortages or running low on supplies.
According to company spokesman Eric Abercrombie, “Colonial Pipeline is currently operating at normal shipment rates based on nominations from shippers. It will take some time for the supply chain to fully stabilize.”
Even though the pipeline is gradually resuming operations and the fuel supply shortage is being addressed, the incident has raised concerns about potential vulnerabilities in the US infrastructure. After paying a ransom of millions in cryptocurrency to the alleged hackers, DarkSide, Colonial Pipeline has brought attention to the importance of cybersecurity and resilience in US systems. DarkSide, known for claiming responsibility for various recent cyberattacks, including corporate breaches, has seemingly gone silent on its usual communication platform.
“The first thing it shows is just how important our infrastructure is,” Secretary Buttigieg noted regarding the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack. “It’s also shedding light on the critical role of cybersecurity and resilience. We are as strong as our weakest link.”https://t.co/Sj1YA8drz0
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 15, 2021
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the significance of infrastructure and cybersecurity in response to the Colonial Pipeline incident. He emphasized the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and resilience to protect against such attacks, emphasizing the interconnectedness of security at all levels.
“This incident serves as a reminder of how global actors can impact our local infrastructure,” Buttigieg mentioned to CNBC, appreciating the comprehensive government-led efforts that have effectively managed the fallout from the cyberattack.
