As a severe winter storm looms, a Plano propane station sees long lines as residents seek essential heating fuel, underscoring the urgent demand in frigid temps.

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Imagine all the things we’ll wait in line for, especially when that one thing means everything.

At the Propane Filling Station in Plano, people lined up for propane as cold weather approaches. People in line said there wasn’t another place with propane within 40 miles.

“I called five or six different stores and they don’t have it,” Kelli Farmer of Greenville said. Manish Mehta, the owner added, “We’re the only place that has propane.”

The line stretched far back, with up to seventy people in line carrying multiple propane tanks with them.

Hunter of Plano was among those waiting after getting a call from his grandad earlier that morning. He needed propane for his RV. Holding up the tank, Hunter explained, “this is a 100 pound propane tank.” He said helping out was only right: “He took care of me this long, I figure I take care of him this long.”

At the front of the line, Manish and his partner worked to keep up with demand. Normally, their 2,000-gallon tanks are refilled once a week. Lately, it’s been much more frequent.

“A day. One day,” Manish said.

Some customers waited more than an hour, but they are all willing to wait if it means getting propane with the winter storm on track for Friday through Monday.

“It’s hit or miss, you know Texas weather?” Hunter said.

Nancy Harding warned: “it’s going to be cold. real cold.”

With temperatures expected to drop into the single digits, propane has become a lifeline.

“Cooking, heating, everything,” Manish said.

Some were only able to get enough propane to last three or four days. Kelli Farmer drove in from Greenville, calling the search “the struggle to find it, it’s desperation.”

And when people are desperate, they’ll drive anywhere, wait however long, and do what’s needed.