VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.,
Sept. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- With the safety of the public, its employees and its
pipelines at the forefront, Virginia Natural Gas is closely
monitoring the progress of Hurricane Florence and how it may impact
service operations and customers. Virginia Natural Gas is
implementing its comprehensive emergency response plan, and crews
are prepared for the storm.
Virginia Natural Gas is providing the following guidelines
associated with natural gas safety during weather emergencies:
Appliance Safety Before and After the Storm
- Customers are advised to leave their natural gas service
operational during a hurricane or severe storm. Most modern gas
appliances have safety valves that shut off the flow of natural gas
automatically with a loss of gas pressure or flooding of the
appliances.
- Leaving the appliance operational could prevent further damage
of water getting into the customer's fuel line or appliance control
valves.
- Electronic ignition appliances will not come on when the power
source has been impacted.
- Lowering the temperature on the central heat at the thermostat
and turning the water heater to its lowest hot water setting would
be the best option.
- If you are uncomfortable leaving your appliances operational,
contact a trained professional (certified plumber or HVAC rep) to
shut off your appliances at the cutoff valves. When it is safe to
do so, have them return to turn the valves back on, leak test the
line and turn on and test the appliance for safe
operation.
- If flooding occurs at a residence or business and the gas
appliances are under water, customers are advised not to operate
their appliances until a safety inspection is conducted by a
certified plumber or HVAC representative.
Detecting Gas Leaks
- If customers smell the distinctive rotten-egg odor associated
with natural gas, they should leave the area immediately and move a
safe distance away from the potential leak, while avoiding any
action that may cause sparks.
- Customers should never try to identify the source of a leak or
stop the leak themselves.
- Avoid using any sources of ignition, such as cell phones,
cigarettes, matches, flashlights, electronic devices, motorized
vehicles, light switches or landlines, as natural gas can ignite
from a spark, possibly causing a fire or explosion.
- Customers should call the Virginia Natural Gas 24-hour
emergency response line at 1-877-572-3342 or 911 once they are in a
safe place out of the area of the suspected leak. They should also
stay away until Virginia Natural Gas or emergency personnel
indicates it is safe to return.
Damage Prevention
- Strong winds and saturated ground could cause trees to become
uprooted. Before removing downed trees, customers should contact
VA811 by calling 811 to have the location of underground utility
lines marked because downed trees could become tangled with the
natural gas lines.
- If a natural gas meter is damaged or natural gas line is
exposed, customers should immediately leave the area and call the
Virginia Natural Gas 24-hour emergency response line at
1-877-572-3342 or 911 from a safe location.
Meter Safety
- Customers are encouraged to know where to locate their natural
gas meter.
- Following a weather emergency, customers should ensure the
natural gas meter is visible, and the area surrounding the meter is
free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used after the storm
to clean up a location may damage the meter if it is hidden.
- If a natural gas meter is damaged or an underground gas line is
exposed, customers should immediately leave the area, and call the
Virginia Natural Gas 24-hour emergency response line
at 1-877-572-3342 or 911 from a safe location.
Natural Gas Generators
- During a power outage, natural gas generators provide
continuous fuel supply from an existing natural gas line. While
these units are available in a range of sizes to meet various
energy needs, customers are encouraged to contact Virginia Natural
Gas prior to purchase and installation to determine whether their
service line and meter meets load requirements for the generator's
safe and efficient operation.
Carbon Monoxide Safety
- To ensure the safe, proper operation of natural gas appliances,
such as a furnace and water heater, and to prevent the potentially
hazardous buildup of carbon monoxide within your home or business,
ensure that outdoor vent openings and air intakes are not
obstructed.
- If customers smell natural gas or suspect carbon monoxide is
present in their home or business, they should immediately leave
the area and call the Virginia Natural Gas 24-hour emergency
response line at 1-877-572-3342 or 911 from a safe location.
- Residents are encouraged to seek medical attention immediately
if anyone in their home or business experiences possible symptoms
of carbon monoxide poisoning, which include headache, dizziness,
fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
For information about natural gas safety, visit
virginianaturalgas.com/safety.
About Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas is one
of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas,
a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Virginia
Natural Gas provides natural gas service to nearly 300,000
customers in southeast Virginia.
Virginia Natural Gas has been recognized as one of the safest, most
reliable and customer-focused natural gas service providers and is
consistently ranked in the top quartile for customer satisfaction
by J.D. Power and Associates. In 2017, Virginia Natural Gas earned
the Most Trusted Brand recognition from Market Strategies
International's Cogent Report™ study and for the second consecutive
year was named Local Distribution Company of the Year by the
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Virginia
Oil and Gas Association. For more information, visit
virginianaturalgas.com and connect with the company on Facebook and
Twitter.
About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO),
America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves
approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its
regulated distribution companies in four states with 774,000 retail
customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other
nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines,
asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership
and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more
information, visit Southern Company Gas at
southerncompanygas.com.
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SOURCE Southern Company