Some say they just needed to fill up as usual.

Other say they heard gas stations would stop selling after 2 p.m.

Gas stations throughout Gainesville and surrounding communities filled up this afternoon. That's because buzz about a potential hike in gas prices circulated within hours, and it prompted some to head to the pump.

Meanwhile, Jim Smith, of the Florida Petroleum Marketers andConvenience Store Association, says Hurricane Ike is to thank.

"The ships are staged in the mouth of the Mississippi right now, waiting for the seas in the shipping channel to get down from what they were yesterday," Smiths aid. "They were at 48 feet in the shipping channel, and so vessels carrying pertoleum products aren't going to move in weather like that."

He says rumors about gas going as high as $5.50 per gallon aren't likely. His guess: an increase of between 20 and 50 cents.