The gas pumps in Leitchfield were flooded with customers on Friday, getting gas for their vehicles before prices increased, due to refiners closing in preparation of Hurricane Ike.

With Hurricane Ike pounding the Texas coast near the major oil refineries in Galvaston and Houston, local convenience stores have been notified to increase their prices because a gasoline shortage is imminent.

It is still not determined at this time how high the cost will go, and depending on the damage from the hurricanes, how long people will suffer at the pump.

IGA Express (Shell), located on South Main Street in Leitchfield, was notified of an .85¢ per gallon increase on Friday for their location alone.

This leaves area businesses weighing their options regarding offsetting costs during hard economic times.

Professional Furniture Service Incorporated Owner Randall Evans said he travels a lot and spends over $400 a week on gas purchases alone just for his truck.

Evans added that he was looking at adding a gas surcharge fee for his services, because it is getting harder for him to even stay afloat.

Houchens Produce Manager Rick Witt was told that gas prices could go as high as $4.50 per gallon before all is said and done.

Witt said the sad thing is that people have no choice but to buy the gas, no matter how high it gets.

Randall Alvey, with TACK transportation, feels differently about the current situation.

Alvey said as long as he can use his company card for gas purchases in the van then he does not care how high the price per gallon gets.

Alvey laughed in saying for his personal vehicle though, “I am going to get a bicycle.”