(Photo: MGN)MILTON, Del.- Prepare to pay more at the pump, yet again.
AAA is predicting gas prices could spike by up to 10 cents a gallon in the coming days, thanks to Hurricane Isaac. The storm has temporarily shut down oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico.
"What are you going to do about it," said Alfred Mitchell of Lewes. "Talking about it don't do no good. You can't do a thing about it."
The national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.75 as of Monday. The projected increases are not expected to reach the levels following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where prices jumped up 16 cents overnight nationally, the agency said.
The news comes ahead of Labor Day weekend travel. Still, AAA is predicting travel to increase over the holiday weekend in Maryland and Delaware.
The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce said an increase at the pump is unlikely to impact holiday travel since many visitors can make the trip on one tank of gas.
"You look at the license plates in town and they're all within 120 miles," said Megan Churchman, a server at Go Fish restaurant.
The gulf accounts for more than 20 percent of the nation's oil production and over 40 percent of refining, according to AAA.
"This is one of those acts of nature that impact crude oil and gasoline prices almost immediately, if not before impact," said Jim Lardear, director of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, in a statement. "The good news is, following any increase this week, prices will likely return to current levels by next week."
