Atmos Energy offers advice for natural gas safety during hurricane season

METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — Atmos Energy, a natural gas company, has offered advice for natural gas customers to keep themselves safe during hurricane season and severe weather.

According to Healthline, a website providing information on health and biology, natural gas exposure can cause a range of health problems. These can include headaches, dizziness and nausea caused by natural gas displacing oxygen in the air. In severe cases this can cause asphyxiation. Those with existing health conditions may have worse symptoms.

According to Atmos Energy, the following safety measures should be followed:

• If gas appliances are underwater, do not operate the appliances. Contact Atmos Energy or a service professional to conduct a safety inspection.
• During severe weather or natural disaster, do not turn off natural gas at the meter even if evacuations are issued.
• If you smell gas, immediately leave the affected area. From a safe distance, call either 911 or the Atmos Energy 24-hour emergency response line at 866-322-8667.
• Never try to find the source of a gas leak.
• Do not use a mobile phone or anything that might cause a spark, such as a generator.
• If a natural gas meter is damaged or a gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call the Atmos Energy 24-hour emergency response line.
• Know where your natural gas meter is located. Make sure it’s visible and free from trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used to clean up after a storm may damage the meter if it is hidden.
• Natural gas pipelines are mostly underground but can be damaged by uprooted trees and shifted foundations. After a storm, call 811 to have the location of underground utility lines marked, as gas service lines could become tangled.
• Atmos Energy customers experiencing a natural gas outage or service interruption should contact the company’s customer service number at 888-286-6700.

More severe weather information can be found on Atmos Energy’s website.

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