As of 12 May 2021, localized shortages of petroleum products have been reported in the southeastern region of the U.S. following a ransomware attack that forced the Colonial Pipeline company to shut down its operations on 7 May. Gas stations in major urban centers in the southeastern states, including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, are reporting reduced supplies of fuel, largely attributed to panic buying. The shortages are anticipated to broaden throughout the week, although the company has stated that it plans to restore most of its services by the end of the week. Colonial Pipeline operates a network that extends more than 5,500 mi (8,850 km) from Houston, Texas, to Linden, New Jersey, and transports more than 2.5 million barrels of oil linking 20 refineries and about 200 distribution centers.