CIOMA Members and the Fuel Relief Fund Provide Emergency Fuel to Support Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts in Texas

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CIOMA Members and the Fuel Relief Fund have sent additional fuel trucks to assist in the Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts, where current supplies have been dangerously depleted. 

On Saturday, Hurricane Harvey hit land, bringing unprecedented rainfall and displacing tens of thousands of people. While relief efforts have started there is still a very long way to go. The storm has left the available fuel supply dangerously low, with scarcity driving price premiums by more than eight dollars a gallon in some places. Without access to life-saving fuel, relief efforts are in danger of halting. 

"So far we have helped thousands of people by providing free fuel in the most devastated areas affected by Hurricane Harvey," said Ted Honcharik, founder of the Fuel Relief Fund. "Much of this would not be possible if it wasn't for the great support from the CIOMA members. A special thank you to the Greinke family and SC Fuels for deploying a second truck full of fuel. Our efforts to help many more has now doubled!"

Fuel Relief Fund, official partner of the United Nations, exists to fill the crucial gap in fuel supply during the initial phases of the disaster, during which the most urgent life-saving efforts take place. The focus is to assist affected communities and relief agencies in saving lives and alleviating suffering.

"It is important for everyone in California and around the world to know that the fuel industry is one of the first called to help when disaster strikes, such as Hurricane Harvey or wildfires here at home across our state," said Ryan Hanretty, Executive Director of CIOMA. "These small, family- and minority-owned businesses are engrained in their communities and truly care about their neighbors and the surrounding environment. It is no surprise that the fuel industry immediately pulls together to help families in need."

CIOMA is the industry's statewide trade association representing the needs of independent wholesale and retail marketers of gasoline, diesel, lubricating oils and other petroleum products; transporters of those products; and retail convenience store operators.

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SOURCE California Independent Oil Marketers Association (CIOMA)