There are many things you can do to minimize the risks to you, your family and home when there's an earthquake.
- Make sure you and those with you are safe.
- Prepare an emergency kit with at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food, water and other basic items.
- Consider taking steps to reduce earthquake hazards in your household.
- Make sure your natural gas water heater is strapped to a wall or post.
- Be familiar with the shut-off valve on your gas appliances.
- Use flexible pipe connections to connect all gas appliances to the hose line that goes to your meter.
- Install a gas shutoff valve at each gas appliance so you can turn it off when necessary.
- Consider installing an earthquake valve.
Stay away from downed power lines. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 if you see one.
- If you smell natural gas, see a broken gas line or hear gas escaping, leave the area immediately and call 911. Then call PSE at 1-888-225-5773.
If you turn off your natural gas service, do not attempt to turn it back on yourself. Call PSE. Do not turn off your gas service if you do not smell, see, hear or suspect gas is escaping. Doing so will deprive you of energy you may need to cope with the emergency. There also may be significant delay in PSE getting to your building to turn the gas back on in a post-disaster environment.