Gas shortages are continuing to cause long lines across the Southeast.

The pipelines supplying the Southeast with gas are working below capacity, USA Today reports. It's a result of Hurricane Ike damage at Texas refineries.

"In isolation, neither of these storms would have been that big a deal, because there's enough inventory to make up the shortfall," explained Kenneth Medlock, energy fellow at the Baker Institute. "But there was a three- to four-week period of refinery capacity not operating. That's basically a month when nothing's being produced."

Many residents in places like Georgia and North Carolina have to wait in line for up to two hours to fill up.

"I don't know what we're going to do at this point but this is a desperate moment and people need some answers," said Metro Atlanta resident Gerard Ancrum.

But experts like Marylee Booth, executive director of Tennessee Oil Marketers Association, say that panic buying has made the situation worse and lessened the supply for everyone.

"If people saw a tanker drive up to a station, they'd start lining up," she said. "The panic has died down. It's getting a little better every day."

Gary Harris, executive director of the North Carolina Petroleum and Convenience Marketers, is predicting the shortage will likely last another three to four weeks.

"There was a lot of panic buying fueled by media coverage of the shortage," he said. "Now, it's hard to catch up."

Sources: CBN News, USA Today, Fox News