9:15 PM EDT November 2. 2012 - MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- For many in New Jersey in search of gasoline, the mantra has become sit, wait and hope. Beginning noon Saturday, that exercise in patience will become even more confounding and complicated. Gov. Chris Christie late Friday ordered gas rationing in 12 counties, declaring that the current shortage could endanger public health, safety and welfare.

The affected counties are Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Monmouth, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.

Motorists in these counties whose license plates end in even numbers can fill up only on even-numbered days. Odd-numbered plates -- which includes those not ending in number -- can fill up only on odd days.

The "state of energy emergency" order states that stations "will be required to only sell motor fuel for use in a passenger automobile bearing license plates." That indicates dealers could refuse to sell to pedestrians seeking to fill containers.

Christie and Attorney General Jeff Chiesa pledged to "aggressively and vigorously enforce" the order, and the governor warned that violators "will be prosecuted to the fullest extent permitted."

The rationing will stay in effect until he declares the emergency over.

Across North Jersey on Friday, some stations had gas, but no power to get it from underground and through the pump. Cones blocked access. Police stood guard.

But still people bundled themselves in coats and lined up in the cold, waiting for gas to fill their home generators. And motorists lined up and park. The line at one station was so long on Thursday night, it backed up onto the off ramp of the 280 freeway in West Orange.

Four days after Hurricane Sandy, people said they have little choice.

"I'll push my car if I have to,'' said Anthony Rix, whose car, its gas gage on 'E,' sat sixth in line at a gas station that had no power. "I work for the Board of Ed, and it's closed. So I don't have anything else to do and I'm close to home. So I'll just sit and wait."

Montclair, N.J.

Rix had arrived at the Delta gas station on the border of Montclair and West Orange about 8:30 a.m. Friday. He'd also come by two or three times the day before, hoping that the power would be on and the gas flowing. It wasn't then. And it wasn't now.

The whole scenario was becoming hard to believe. "You're not used to this,'' he said. "We have snow storms but everything is still normal. . . People are not used to this, and we're not prepared."

His sister had picked up free water and ice that was being handed out by a local utility. The family was also making frequent trips to the supermarket, buying groceries day by day since their power had been out all week and there was no way to keep food cold.

"You think about pictures of Katrina, and people waiting in line for ice and water,'' Rix said. "You wouldn't think it would happen here.''If you don't have electricity,everything is dead. jean Tanis, owner of the Delta station, said that he has gas, but without power, it is of no use.