Hurricane Katrina ripped through the South this week, causing many casualties and leaving Southern states grieving and in pain. Tennessee might not have received as much of the high winds and waters as Mississippi and Louisiana, but Hurricane Katrina is causing many Tennessee residents to feel pain at the pump.

According to an Associated Press news story, last Tuesday oil prices began to skyrocket because of oil refineries being shut down along the Gulf Coast. Gas prices were estimated to range anywhere from $2.85 a gallon to $3.00. Consumers flocked to gas stations to fill up before prices escalated any higher.

Martin gas prices have reached $3.09 per gallon for regular gas. “People are really aggravated about the rising prices, but business has not slowed down at all,” said Beth McMillian, store manager at Suiter’s Service in Martin. McMillian’s store ran out of gas two days last week but remained open because people still wanted to purchase cigarettes and other convenience items.

“The citizens of Martin and the surrounding area should be thankful that we are not in the shape that New Orleans and Biloxi are in,” McMillian said. “Customers just have to be patient and realize that we all are experiencing this inconvenience together.”

Gas prices have been steadily rising for the past few months, to the disappointment of UTM students.

“The government is scamming us because they have the technology to make 85 percent of gas from ethanol. I really believe that the government also needs to put a price cap on gas as well,” said Marcus Johnson, a senior Communications major from Memphis.

Husein Husein, a graduate Accounting and Business student and a Math Learning Specialist, said, “I believe that something really good could come out of all this. This could cause Americans to cut down on driving so much which in the long run would lead to a cleaner environment.“