LOS ANGELES, April 3, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Disasters strike quickly. As the Southland kicks off Earthquake Preparedness Month, Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) reminds customers that advance preparation is critical and offers these safety tips to help reduce the possibility of injuries or damage to property that may occur during the next temblor:
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 and is also available at
www.socalgas.com).
* 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.
Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for nearly 140 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, serving a population of 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 million gas meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles of diverse terrain throughout Central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. The Gas Company is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.socalgas.com.