Southern California Gas Company Offers Safety Tips for Earthquake Preparedness Month

In honor of Earthquake Preparedness Month, Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) reminded customers that advance preparation is critical during an earthquake emergency.

The natural gas provider offers these safety tips to help reduce the possibility of injuries or damage to property that may occur during a quake:

Before an earthquake

• Follow the rules contained in current plumbing codes, requiring that water heaters be secured to the wall studs to prevent them from moving or toppling over. The water heater should be fastened securely to the wall studs in two places—the upper and lower one-third of the tank—with heavy bolts and metal straps. A quake may cause an unsecured water heater to move, possibly breaking the gas connectors, which may result in a fire. The loss of a water heater also would deprive a home of a valuable water source that may be needed for cooking and drinking.
• Replace semi-rigid (aluminum or copper) gas appliance connectors with approved connectors made of corrugated metal. These are less likely to crack during an earthquake. Connectors and water heater strapping kits are available at most hardware and home improvement stores.
• Have a 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench handy to manually turn off the gas meter should it be necessary.

After an earthquake

• Do not turn off the gas meter after an earthquake, unless there is the smell or sound of gas escaping.


• If an appliance appears to have a leak, turning off the valve between the appliance and gas line may stop the leak. If this does not stop the leak, the gas should be shut off at the meter.


• If there is the smell or sound of gas escaping, do not light a match, candle or cigarette, and do not turn electrical devices—not even a light switch—on or off. (If calling the Gas Company for assistance, call from a safe location, away from the leak.) The gas should be manually turned off at the meter. Using an adjustable wrench, make a quarter-turn of the valve, moving it from a vertical position to a horizontal position. This will shut off the flow of gas. (A diagram and instructions for turning off the gas meter are printed in the "Survival Guide" section of most telephone directory white pages).


• If the gas is shut off at the meter, do not attempt to turn it back on without the help of The Gas Company. Gas service should not be restored until The Gas Company determines that the customer's facilities, appliances or other gas equipment have been made safe.

Share these tips with family and friends to be sure everyone is prepared in the event of an earthquake. For more information, check out the Southern California Gas Company press release.