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Emergency Utility Tips

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Emergency Utility Tips

Power Outage Information

Water

  • Find the main water shut-off valve inside the house (located where the water line enters the building). Turn the valve in the direction of the arrow, usually clockwise. (See diagram below.)

  • If necessary (and possible), shut off the main water valve outside your home. It may be next to a meter in a concrete box in the sidewalk.

  • Have water service restored by your supplier.

Gas

  • In the event of an earthquake, it is best to be prepared:

    • Secure water heaters to minimize their movement during a quake

    • Replace semi-rigid gas connectors with flexible ones.

    • Anchor homes firmly to their foundations.

  • After an earthquake, be sure that no flammables have fallen or spilled near natural gas appliances.

  • You should know how to turn off the natural gas to your home if necessary. If you detect a strong natural gas odor or hear gas blowing, follow these steps to turn off your gas:

    • Locate the shut-off valve.

    • Use a meter shut-off wrench or a crescent wrench (have a wrench stored in a specific location where it will be immediately available) to turn the valve crosswise to the pipe.

Once the gas is off, leave it off until a service technician can check your system and turn on your service.

  • Natural Gas Leaks:

    • In its natural state, natural gas is odorless and colorless. So that it can be detected easily, an odorant called mercaptan is injected into the gas before it goes in the distribution system. The odorant is so highly concentrated that even the smallest amounts of natural gas can be detected. If you've never smelled it, mercaptan gives off a foul smell, reminiscent of rotten eggs.

    • Any odor of natural gas inside your home might indicate a leak. Here are some steps to take if a natural gas leak is detected:

        • DON'T use your telephone. This includes cellular phones and all types of portable communication and electronic devices that have a battery. these can spark and create a source of ignition.
        • DON'T light matches or create any other source of ignition.
        • DON'T turn a light on or off, or operate ANY electrical switches, either off or on. This could create a source of ignition. The sparking could ignite the gas.
        • OPEN windows and doors wide.
        • EVACUATE all persons from the building.

        • CALL your gas company from a neighbor's phone or a phone away from the building.

    • If the odor of escaping gas is strong inside or outside your home, or if the flow of gas from broken or disconnected gas lines can be heard or a break seen, follow the steps listed above.

    • Meanwhile: TURN OFF the gas valve located at the gas meter (see illustration) with a wrench or other suitable tool. ONCE THE GAS IS OFF, LEAVE IT OFF.

    • If the leaking gas ignites, do not attempt to put out the flames. Call the fire department and then your gas company.

      (Courtesy of Northwest Natural Gas)

Electricity

  • Turn off electricity ONLY if you see sparks or a fallen wire.

  • Find the main circuit box, usually on the outside of the house.

  • Locate the main circuit breaker or fuse (it will be labeled). Switch the circuit breaker to the off position, or pull the fuse.

  • Have electrical services restored by your supplier.