Emergency

Preparedness

Natural disasters and other emergencies can strike without warning. In the event of an emergency, there’s a good chance that public safety service personnel will be busy handling emergencies. That’s why it’s important to be prepared at all times. The following tips are designed to help you prepare for and respond to an emergency.

BEFORE AN EMERGENCY

Your Natural Gas Meter

Know where your natural gas meter is located and keep a 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench with your emergency supplies, near your building exit or next to your natural gas meter shut-off valve.

Don’t store the wrench on the natural gas meter or other natural gas piping. In the event of an earthquake or other emergency, turn off your natural gas meter if you smell natural gas, hear natural gas leaking or see other signs of a leak– and ONLY if it is safe to do so.


Check

Safety Devices

Check your safety devices, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, to make sure they’re functioning properly. Call SoCalGas or a qualified professional to inspect your furnace and other natural gas appliances for safe operation. Make sure flexible connectors aren’t subject to damage or passing through floors, walls or ceilings.


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BEFORE AN EMERGENCY

Secure Your Water Heater

To keep your water heater from moving or toppling in an earthquake, strap it firmly to the wall studs in two places – the upper and lower one-third of the tank – with heavy bolts and metal strapping.

Be sure to place the lower strap at least four inches above the thermostat controls. Kits are usually available at your local hardware store and we recommend having a qualified professional install it for you.


Use Approved Flexible Connectors



Call SoCalGas® or a licensed, qualified professional to replace any semi-rigid aluminum or copper natural gas tubing appliance connectors with an approved flexible connector.

BEFORE AN EMERGENCY

Develop an Emergency Preparedness Plan

Most of us have thought about what we would do in an emergency. Unfortunately, most of us never go beyond just thinking about it. Even worse, some people believe that having stored food supplies and a few thoughts about what they’d do in an emergency is being prepared.

The truth is, without formalizing your thoughts on how to approach various emergencies, you aren’t prepared. Being prepared means more than just having a store of supplies available; it means having a written plan that includes training and practice. Developing a written plan not only organizes your thoughts, it provides a repeatable approach to emergencies. It’s an excellent tool for training and practicing.

Your plan should be tailored to your specific situation and the specific emergency you’re responding to. For example, what will you do in the event of a fire versus an earthquake or flood?

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