Long lines at gas stations as NYC commute begins

NEW YORK (AP) - The now-familiar delays at gas pumps after Superstorm Sandy developed again Friday on the East Coast during the morning commute.

Long lines formed in suburban New York's Westchester County as early as 6 a.m., when dozens of cars snaked along the breakdown lane of an expressway waiting for gas at a rest stop in Yonkers.

On the other side of the highway, about 30 cars lined up on an exit lane trying to get into a gas station, interrupting the flow of traffic.

The storm damaged ports that accept fuel tankers and flooded underground equipment that sends fuel through pipelines. Without power, fuel terminals can't pump gasoline onto tanker trucks, and gas stations can't pump fuel into customers' cars.

The Port of New York and New Jersey was slowly starting to accept tankers, but some cargo was being diverted to the Port of Virginia. Federal requirements for low-smog gasoline have been lifted, and fuel trucks are on their way to the area.

In the Westchester County village of Elmsford, lines formed at the few gas stations that remained open. Yellow tape is pulled across driveways of stations that are closed.

In Farmingdale, east of New York City on Long Island, at least four gas stations were closed or had yellow tape around the pumps because they were out of gas.