MANCHIN DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY - Triggers Price Gouging

(09/13/2008)

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin has declared a state of emergency so the state can respond to requests to help Hurricane Ike victims. Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg says the declaration also automatically triggers price gouging laws covering gasoline and other products. Manchin said violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Gas prices have increased 10-25 cents a gallon over the past week in parts of West Virginia. Authorities say prices could go even higher if Hurricane Ike's landfall damages Texas refineries. West Virginia Gasoline Dealers Association Executive Director Marvin Gray says it's a wait and see situation. He says if the rigs are damaged gasoline prices could skyrocket. "You have all of the oil rigs out there and also in the Galveston-Houston area you have an awful lot of refineries down there," Gray said. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in West Virginia was approximately $3.85 heading into the weekend, but Gray says the prices by next weekend could be a lot different.

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