Be glad you ain’t living in Atlanta:

The effects on motorists have been dramatic. Most service stations in Atlanta are out of gas, with plastic bags placed over the pumps or signs saying “out”.

As a result, drivers are cruising the city hunting for gas — often with a fuel meter needle hovering close to empty. When they find gas, it’s often above $4 a gallon.

Traffic is lighter on the city’s streets and highways as some residents share rides and limit their journeys.

Lines and elaborate queuing systems have developed at gas stations on days when oil companies deliver fuel. Motorists report showing up at gas stations before dawn to beat the line only to find dozens of cars ahead of them.

This due to the refinery shutdowns in the wake of Hurricane Ike, and it’s not merely limited to Atlanta, but happening throughout the southeast. And throughout the region, one eye on the financial collapse, the other looking for an open gas station, people are asking themselves:

What the hell is going on in this country?