This is directly from the governor......

Governor: Don't Panic Over Gas

Gov. Sonny Perdue asked Georgians to remain calm over the rising price of gasoline, saying the state's major distributor should be operational by the weekend.

"There's no reason to panic. There's plenty of gas on the way and the only way we'll have problems locally is if we rush out and horde," the governor said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference. "Stay calm and conserve, don't just run out to top off your tank. Just continue with normal fueling habits."

Hurricane Katrina knocked out power to two pipelines that bring gas and jet fuel into the region. The lines have been down for two days while the Metro typically holds onto a 10-day supply of gasoline.

"That does affect our gas supply and it's led to an increase in gas prices," the governor said of the pipeline problem. "This is a temporary problem due to Hurricane Katrina and will be resolved soon. It is not a cause for alarm or panic. It is not a long-term situation."

Governor Perdue said he contacted the state's gas distributors Wednesday morning and has been assured that they are working to address the supply problem. He said that a significant amount of the state's gas supplies are not affected because they arrive at the port, not by pipeline.

"To further ease the supply problem, we have temporarily waived the fuel additive requirements to expand the supply of gasoline," he said. The EPA approved the request to waive the additive, which allows for more types of fuel to come into the metro area.

In Forsyth County, 11Alive Reporter Jennifer Leslie witnessed the price of a gallon of gas shoot up to $3.50 a gallon before dropping back to $3.09 just an hour later. 11Alive.Com found one station in Stockbridge selling gasoline for a whopping $3.56 a gallon.

Instead of adding to the lines at the pumps, Perdue suggested, "Why don't just relax and spend the time with your children?...we're going to get through this just fine."

He acknowledged that while higher gas prices are an inconvenience, Georgians should keep in mind the massive humanitarian disaster in Lousiana and Mississipi.

The Clean Air Campaign is using the gas price situation to ask drivers to sign up for its Commuter Rewards program that offers cash for drivers who switch to a clean commute. Those who use mass transit, telework, carpool, walk, or bike can earn $3 per day