Securing Your Home After An Earthquake
How do I check for gas leaks after an earthquake?
After an earthquake you want to be checking for gas leaks. You want to check each of your gas appliances to make sure that you don't have a gas leak. You want to check your water heater, your stove, anything else that may use gas in your home. You'll likely be able to smell a gas leak and you may also be able to hear a gas leak, the hissing sound of gas escaping. And then, where gas comes in to your home, at your gas valve, you may even be able to see if there's a leak there as you may actually be able to see the gas creating dust from the ground where it's coming out of. So you may be able to smell it, hear it, or see a gas leak. You don't want to test for gas by lighting a match and in fact, you don't want to use any flame source in your home until you're sure that you don't have a gas leak.
What should I do if I find a gas leak after an earthquake?
After an earthquake if you notice you do have a gas leak, first thing you want to do is go outside to your gas main and use the shut-off valve wrench to shut off the gas. Go back inside and open up all the doors and windows, then go outside and call the gas company. Stay outside until the gas leak is repaired.
How do I shut off my home's gas supply after an earthquake?
After an earthquake if you know you have a gas leak right away, go out and shut off the gas to your home. It's best if you know where the tools are you'll need in advance. It can either be a twelve inch adjustable wrench or a specialized wrenches that you can use to shut off the gas valve. It's a simple half turn clockwise on the gas valve. You should hear the gas stop flowing and you'll know you shut off the gas.
How do I shut off my homes electricity after an earthquake?
After an earthquake, if you notice there's any damaged electrical wiring in your home or any other reason why you feel you need to turn off the electricity, go to your main breaker box, find the main circuit breaker, and switch the electricity to off.
How do I shut off my home's water supply after an earthquake?
After an earthquake, if you need to turn the water off to your home, take a 12-inch adjustable wrench, go to your home's main water valve and turn the valve about a half-turn clockwise until you hear the water stop flowing.
