Gas prices at one Oak Harbor station jumped six cents overnight.

That is just the beginning of what some are predicting to be a serious onslaught of fuel price increases. The Gulf Coast, which was pummeled by Hurricane Katrina this week, produces much of the petroleum products the country uses.

The Gulf accounts for about 23 percent of the USA’s domestic natural gas and 30 percent of its oil, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service.

For some, the sudden surge in gas prices in Washington is not justified. Oak Harbor resident Mario Coppola said he used to sell gas in 1970 for 26.9 cents. While filling up at AM/PM in Oak Harbor, he paid $2.79 for regular. That station offers the lowest prices on Whidbey Island.

“It’s sad what the public has to pay to survive,” he said.

Coppola works part-time as a delivery person for the Skagit Valley Herald. He said his fuel bills are more than he makes from the job.

CNN.com reported that the cost for regular unleaded has surged above $5 per gallon in Atlanta. According to the AAA Web site, the price of unleaded nationwide spiked 16 cents to $2.86 per gallon.

On South Whidbey, Naomi’s Exxon was at $2.93 as of Friday morning. According to washingtongasprices.com, fuel above $3 per gallon was already common place as of Tuesday evening. A report of $3.32 per gallon was reported to the Web site for a station in Friday Harbor.

The state-wide average has jumped 17 cents in the last week.