This story began on May 7: then hackers attacked the major Colonial Pipeline fuel pipeline and paralyzed its operation. This pipeline provides 45% of fuel supplies to the eastern United States (delivered from Texas), so as soon as disruptions in fuel transportation occurred, many Americans immediately rushed to attack gas stations – such is the psychology of survival; as soon as a crisis situation arises, the majority of the population rushes to buy up essential items, including fuel (and for US residents, life without it is, without exaggeration, unthinkable).
As a result, within a few days, gas stations on the US East Coast were left without gasoline. This was partly due to the actions of particularly ardent panickers who began to "sweep up" fuel for reserve and for a rainy day. Even the authorities' appeal, which called on Americans to use common sense and remain calm, emphasizing that "under no circumstances should gasoline be poured into anything other than a car's tank or a container specifically designed for this purpose [a canister – ed.]," did not help.
However, the situation should normalize in the near future: on the night of May 14, Colonial Pipeline announced that it had resumed operation of the entire pipeline system and began delivering fuel. The company emphasized that within a few days, supplies would return to their normal mode.
