National Preparedness Month Tip #2

[hollyking]

Here's another tip for the month. Again, this one comes from AC7UK.

Hang a gas and water shut-off tool at the door that leads to outside to your meters, and learn how to use it. You can purchase a specialized tool, or just use a wrench.

A gas leak can be one of the most dangerous side-effects of a disaster - or sometimes the disaster itself. Make sure all your family members know how to shut off both the water and gas at the meter. Remember: Always turn off the gas if you have good reason to suspect a leak. But once you have turned it off, only the gas company can turn it back on. You may have a leak if you:

• Smell gas (natural gas has no odor, so they add the chemical mercaptan for just this purpose)
• Hear the leak (a hissing sound)
• See the gas meter dials spinning, yet your gas appliances aren't operating

You can turn your water off and back on again at will, so your family members can practice. You may have a whole-house shut off inside your house, in addition to the shut-off at the meter near the street. If you are on a well, you will have a different procedure for turning off the water.