Following reports of a major spike in the cost of gasoline, some filling stations in Hazard are operating at capacity as motorists rush to fill up with cheaper gasoline.

On its website, WYMT-TV is reporting that gasoline has risen to $4.69 per gallon in Bowling Green. As of noon Friday in Hazard, gas had risen to $3.99 for a gallon of regular gasoline at some stations, and the Herald has heard reports that some stations are also posting limits as to the amount of gasoline that can be sold at one time.

At the Gas-N-Go at Morton Blvd. Friday afternoon, cars were lined up to take advantage of regular gasoline at $3.79.

Lauranetta Cornett was at the Gas-N-Go waiting in line to fill up her pick-up, saying she heard that gasoline could be going up to much as $5 per gallon.

“That’s what somebody said at school, at college, so I said I’ve gotta go get some gas,” she said laughing.

Cornett said she hadn’t heard anything official, but word of mouth was enough to get her to the pumps before the price began to rise.

Tracy Hensley works in Hazard, which is a long drive from where he lives, he said as he filled up the tank to his pick-up. Hensley said he was filling up more because of a possible lack of supplies due to Hurricane Ike bearing down on the gulf coast than because of the price.

“My usual commute is about an hour to Perry County and back, and so I get gas a lot as you can imagine,” Hensley said. “So, whenever a hurricane is coming or something like that and you got a long drive home you want to make sure you get to the gas pump, not because of the gas prices but because they run out of supplies and you want to make sure you get home. It’s hurricane season and you expect it to go up, I guess, every now and then.”