Video: New York mayor declares fuel rationing after Sandy "The best way we think to cut down on the lines and help customers buy gas faster, to help gas stations stay open longer and to reduce the potential for disorder is to alternate the days that drivers can purchase gas," the mayor said. New York City has been hard hit by fuel shortages since Sandy hit ten days ago, due to power outages and inventory that has been stranded at refineries. Bloomberg said only a quarter of the city's gas stations are open. Emergency vehicles, buses, taxis and certain other vehicles are exempt from the rationing system, he said. Superstorm Sandy caused a "staggering" $50 billion (£31bn) in damages and economic losses for the US Northeast region, with New York state sustaining $33bn (£20bn) in damages, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday.