Are You Prepared?

Be prepared for earthquakes

Before an earthquake

• Structural movement is one of the most common causes of earthquake damage to natural gas systems. Houses should be anchored firmly to their foundations.
• Natural gas appliances should be securely mounted so they are not susceptible to movement. Natural gas water heaters in particular should be anchored to a wall or post to prevent breakage of natural gas piping and to preserve a supply of water.
• A good alternative to an earthquake valve is to work in partnership with your neighbors, instructing them how to detect a natural gas leak, and on how and when to shut off the service.
  If you do choose to install an earthquake valve:
  • Have it installed by a licensed plumber.
  • Have it installed downstream of the natural gas meter (the pipe that leads from the meter to the appliances).
  • Be sure the dealer who sells you the device can come out to reset it, if necessary, should it ever be shut off for reasons other than an earthquake.

After an earthquake

• If you smell gas:
  1. get out
  2. call 911 from a neighbor's house
  3. then call PSE Customer Service at 1.888.225.5773
• If you do not smell or hear natural gas escaping, you probably do not need to shut off natural gas service. Doing so could unnecessarily deprive you of energy you may need to cope with the emergency.
• If you have an earthquake shut-off valve, and it is activated by an earthquake, call PSE Customer Services at 1.888.225.5773. PSE will reset the device, check the entire natural gas system for damage, and re-light appliances free of charge.
• If the power goes out, be prepared to stay safe and comfortable. For tips, review the Service Outages page on PSE.com.