Severe Weather Safety

Before the Storm

Losing natural gas service during severe weather and power outages is rare because pipe infrastructure is below ground. However, there are several safety precautions customers should take to keep you and your community safe.

• Customers are encouraged to know the location of their natural gas meter.
• Atlanta Gas Light advises customers to leave their gas meter on to maintain proper pressure in the gas piping within their homes or businesses and to prevent water from entering the lines should flooding occur. Most gas appliances have safety valves that shut off the flow of gas automatically if the pilot light goes out.
• Your natural gas service should operate uninterrupted throughout the storm. Only Atlanta Gas Light or emergency personnel should turn the valve off. In cases of severe lightning, customers might want to unplug natural gas appliances to avoid possible electrical damage.
• Customers are urged to report a natural gas emergency to the Atlanta Gas Light 24-hour emergency response line at 877.427.4321. The damage assessment and restoration process begins once the storm has passed and it’s safe for our crews to proceed with gathering information to determine the extent of service needs in affected areas.

During/Immediately After the storm

• Natural gas is injected with a chemical odorant called mercaptan, which produces a distinctive “rotten egg” smell. If the odor of gas is present when you return to your home, immediately leave the affected area and call our 24-hour emergency response line at 877.427.4321 from a safe location. Never try to identify the source of a leak yourself.
• If you smell gas, avoid using any potential sources of ignition, such as cell phones, cigarettes, matches, flashlights, electronic devices, motorized vehicles, light switches or landline phones. A spark could ignite natural gas and cause a fire or explosion.
• If flooding occurs and gas appliances are - or were - submerged under water, do not try to operate the appliances.
• During clean up and repair after a storm, avoid causing damage to the gas lines by calling 811 before digging - it's the law. This also pertains to removing downed trees as they may become entangled with natural gas lines. Calling 811 keeps you, your neighbors and your community safe.
• Following a weather emergency, ensure the gas meter is visible and that the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used after the storm to clean up a location may damage an unseen meter. If a natural gas meter is damaged or gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call our 24-hour emergency response number at 877.427.4321 or dial 911.

Although rare owing to natural gas infrastructure sitting underground, if your gas service is interrupted as a result of a severe storm, restoration time depends on when water in flooded areas recedes, when customers’ homes and businesses are free of standing water, and when Atlanta Gas Light personnel can safely enter homes and businesses, and appliances are easily accessible by technicians.

Winter Safety Tips

The safety of our customers and communities is our highest priority. That’s why at all times, including when severe winter weather events related to snow and ice occur, we strongly advise customers to adhere to the following guidelines associated with natural gas meter and appliance venting safety: