CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., June 1, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- June marks the start of the 2022 hurricane season
and forecasters are predicting above average activity. Chattanooga
Gas is encouraging its customers to prepare for the severe inland
storms an active storm season can bring.
Chattanooga Gas' number one value is safety and the company
reminds customers to keep safety first as they prepare for the
threat of severe weather. The company offers these natural gas
safety tips for customers to remember:
Meter Safety
- Know the location of your natural gas meter.
- Do not attempt to turn off your gas supply at the meter.
Only Chattanooga Gas or emergency personnel should turn the valve
on or off.
-
- Leaving natural gas meters on helps to maintain proper pressure
in the gas lines. It also can prevent water from entering the fuel
lines should flooding occur.
- Following severe weather, make sure your natural gas meter is
visible, and the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and
debris. Mechanical equipment used during storm clean-up could
damage the meter if it is hidden.
- If your natural gas meter is damaged or an underground gas line
is exposed, leave the area immediately and call 911 or the
Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response line at 866-643-4170
from a safe location.
Appliance Safety – Before and After the Storm
- Leave your natural gas appliances connected in severe
weather. Most modern gas appliances have safety valves that
shut off the flow of natural gas automatically if there is a loss
of gas pressure or flooding of the appliances.
- If you are not comfortable leaving your appliances connected,
contact a certified plumber or HVAC representative 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
ensure the appliance is safe to operate.
- If flooding occurs at your property and the gas appliances are
underwater, please do not use the appliances until a safety
inspection is conducted by a certified plumber or HVAC
representative.
Damage Prevention
- Intense winds and saturated ground can cause trees to become
uprooted. Contact Tennessee 811 to
request that the underground utility lines be marked. This is
important because the tree roots could become tangled with utility
lines.
- If a natural gas meter is damaged or a natural gas line is
exposed, please immediately leave the area and call 911 or the
Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response line at 866-643-4170
from a safe location.
Detecting Gas Leaks
- If you smell the distinctive "rotten-egg" odor associated with
natural gas, leave the area immediately and move away from the
potential leak.
- Look for blowing dirt, discolored vegetation or continued
bubbling in standing water.
- Never try to identify the source of a leak or stop the leak on
your own.
- 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 and cause a fire or explosion.
- Call the or the Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response line
at 866-643-4170 or 911 once you are in a safe location away from
potential leak.
Generator Safety
- Generators can be helpful after a storm but dangerous if not
used properly. The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator
are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, electric shock or electrocution
and fire.
- Never use a generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed
space.
- Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator
into a wall outlet, a practice known as "backfeeding."
- Plug appliances directly into the generator or use a heavy
duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is rated (in watts or amps)
at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads.
- 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, please contact Chattanooga Gas prior to the purchase
and installation to determine whether their service line and meter
meet load requirements for the generator's safe and efficient
operation.
For more information about Chattanooga Gas Light, log on to our
website or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About Chattanooga Gas
Chattanooga Gas is one of four natural gas distribution
companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Chattanooga Gas provides retail
natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately
68,000 customers in Hamilton and
Bradley counties in southeast
Tennessee. The Chattanooga Gas
service area includes the communities of Chattanooga, Cleveland, Red
Bank, East Ridge,
Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. For more information, visit
chattanoogvesagas.com.
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 4.3 million natural gas customers through its
regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately
666,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural
gas. Other businesses include investments in interstate pipelines
and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For
more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
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SOURCE Chattanooga Gas