After hearing about the airplane attacks in New York City and Washington, he figured it best to gas up his vehicle.

''It's just my way of being prepared for whatever,'' said Mr. Swayne, an operating-room technician at Medical College of Georgia Hospital and Clinics. And Mr. Swayne wasn't alone in his precautionary efforts.

At the BP station at River Watch Parkway and Reynolds Street, station clerks confirmed a surge in business in the afternoon.

As Mr. Swayne pulled his sedan from the pump, Sherry Walker of Augusta got out of her car and said it was a good idea to fill up before picking up her daughter from John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School.

''You never know what'll happen tomorrow,'' said Mrs. Walker, an insurance agent. ''When I first heard it, all I could do was cry,'' she said. ''For all we know, the gas stations could be closed tomorrow.''

The average price for unleaded fuel in Georgia was about $1.33 per gallon Tuesday, according to the American Automobile Association's Fuel Gauge Report. The average price in the Augusta metro area was about $1.32.

Local gas-station owners would not speculate on possible price increases, saying their costs would dictate their prices - and their costs fluctuate every day.

''I can't tell you what the price is going to be tomorrow,'' said Marty Koger, co-owner of Koger and Walters Oil Co., which operates a dozen BP Amoco stations locally.

''What I can say is my cost did not increase today,'' he said. ''Tomorrow, that may change. If my costs rise, then my prices will have to as well.''

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency urged businesses Tuesday not to inflate prices on basic necessities and services as the state reacts to the nation's terrorist attacks.

''We have received reports of price gouging on everything from gas and groceries to lodging,'' agency Director Gary McConnell said. ''The events that have occurred today ... should not be used as an opportunity to increase profits.''

The agency will work with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to track any law violations involving price gouging. Still, many Augustans say, ''Better safe than sorry.''

John Hayes of Martinez said he thought it was a good idea to get a petroleum fill-up. ''It's just a good idea to do this. You never know if the next targets are going to be petroleum refineries or even banking institutions,'' said the insurance-claims representative.

A Pensacola, Fla., native, Mr. Swayne said preparing for the worse comes naturally. ''From where I come from, people go for gasoline, food and cash. It's just something you get used to,'' he said, en route to get his daughter out early from her classes at Greenbrier High School in Evans.

Staff Writer John Bankston contributed to this article.

Reach Timothy Cox at (706) 823-3217.