If Hurricane Sandy turned your world upside down, and long lines for gas make you groan, take a deep breath. Relief is on the way.

Last Saturday, just a couple days after the storm devastated parts of New Jersey and New York, New York Harbor re-opened allowing the delivery of more than 8 million gallons of gasoline. Drivers had been waiting in lines a mile long or longer, only to arrive at a station which had run out of gas. The long waits were seen across the New Jersey and New York areas at any gas station which still had power. Some stations had gasoline to sell, but no electricity to dispense it. Other stations sold what little gas they had left then had no choice but to close to avoid confusion.

Residents in the area needed the fuel for their vehicles as did emergency workers and volunteer crews working to clear debris and rescue people still stranded from the storm. Other people needed the fuel to power generators which were supplying electricity for heaters and lights in areas where power had been shut down by the fury of the storm.

Already this week another 20 million gallons of fuel is being shipped immediately to the area, and more fuel is expected to continue to flow through the New York Harbor. With public transportation still unpredictable and unreliable, it seems likely drivers in the area will have little choice but to use their personal vehicles. In the meantime, drivers are urged to conserve fuel; drive defensively and avoid driving altogether unless it is absolutely necessary.

Also, be aware that the number of pedestrians has greatly increased and many people are likely still in shock at the magnitude of the damage in their area. Be patient, relax and don’t be in a hurry to go any where.