PG&E Shares Safety Tips During Earthquake Preparedness Month

SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- With a focus on safety and continuous improvement, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) practices its readiness plans for earthquakes and other natural disasters to be prepared to help the communities it serves throughout Northern and Central California. Earthquake Preparedness Month in April is a timely reminder for PG&E customers to develop and practice their family emergency plans as well.

"The first step in a safe and effective emergency response is to have a plan," said Barry Anderson, vice president of emergency preparedness and response for PG&E. "Understanding what to do before, during and after an earthquake strikes will help protect you and your family."

PG&E offers the following safety tips to help customers develop an earthquake preparedness plan:

Before:

• Have an emergency plan and conduct drills with your family and childcare providers.
• Know how and when to turn off electricity, water and gas at the main switch or valve.
• Have an emergency supply kit that includes water, food, a first aid kit, blankets, a supply of needed medications, a portable radio, flashlights, a battery powered mobile phone charger, fresh batteries and a crescent or adjustable pipe-type wrench for turning off gas and water mains if necessary.
• Securely anchor water heaters, heavy appliances and heavy furniture that could topple.
• Keep flammable liquids away from water heaters, furnaces, stoves and other potential ignition sources.
• Know the safe spots in each room, like under a sturdy desk or table. Remember to stay away from windows, mirrors and heavy objects that can topple over.
• Plan evacuation routes from places where tsunamis present a risk to you and your family (home, school, and workplace). If possible, pick areas 100 feet above sea level or two miles inland. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot within 15 minutes.

During:

• If you are indoors, stay inside. Get under a sturdy desk or table.
• If you are outdoors, get into the open, away from buildings, trees, walls and power lines. Be alert for falling debris.
• If you are driving, pull to the side of the road and stop. Do not park under overpasses, power lines, light posts, trees or signs. Stay in your car until the earthquake is over.

After:

• Check for injuries and ensure that everyone is safe.
• Check for damage. If you smell or hear escaping gas, get everyone outside to a safe location away from the building and upwind where you can no longer smell natural gas.  Once outside, use your phone to call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
• If you smell or hear gas escaping, and are able to do so safely, shut off the gas at the main gas service shutoff valve using a suitable tool like a 12 to 15 inch adjustable pipe or crescent-type wrench. The valve is normally located near your gas meter. Do not shut off the valve unless you smell or hear gas escaping.
• Once you shut-off the gas, DO NOT turn it back on. If the gas service shutoff valve is closed, contact PG&E or another qualified professional to perform a safety inspection before the gas service is restored and the appliance pilots are lit.
• If you suspect a gas leak, do not use electrical switches, appliances or telephones, because sparks can ignite gas from broken lines. Do not check for a gas leak with a match or an open flame.
• If the power goes out, unplug major appliances to prevent possible damage when the power is turned back on. Keep a light on to let you know when power is restored.
• During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights instead of candles due to the risk of fire.  If you must use candles, keep them away from drapes, lamp shades and small children and never leave them unattended.
• Treat all downed power lines as if they are energized and extremely dangerous. Keep yourself and others away from them. Call 911, and then notify PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

For more safety and readiness information, visit PG&E's website at www.pge.com/safetycentral and the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.ready.gov. 

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 15 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ and http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/.

http://www.pgecurrents.com
http://www.facebook.com/pacificgasandelectric
http://www.twitter.com/pge4me
http://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-gas-and-electric-company
http://www.youtube.com/user/pgevideo

SOURCE PG&E Corporation