What A Racket

Okay, so we have a hurricane in the gulf. It shuts down some refineries, shuts down some platforms, etc. But even with that, causes an overall shortage of roughly 10%. 10% ain't shit. If you think it is, you had better rethink that.
Ask any woman. They're usually shopaholics. Many scour the ads for bargains. They won't even go out of their way for a 10% sale.

So why is it that the price of fuel produced and refined here in the U.S. goes up to match the price of fuel pumped abroad? Or even in the gulf?
Yeah yeah. I know. Supply/demand. All that noise.
Sure, we refine it here, but those aren't the only refineries either.

I guess I just don't get how one area of the country being out of commission can bring things to a halt.