Gas

Natural gas leaks can cause fires and explosions inside a building.

• If you smell gas, hear gas escaping, see a broken gas line, or if you suspect a leak, open all windows and doors and dial 911.
• If you suspect a leak, never use candles or matches, and do not turn on electrical switches or appliances.
• Identify the main shutoff valve, located on the gas line coming into the main gas meter. This is usually on the exterior of your home or building, or in an external closet.

Your main valve may look like this:

To turn gas off, give the valve a quarter turn in either direction. When the lever crosses the direction of the pipe (see below) the gas is off.

• Keep a crescent wrench or gas shut-off tool nearby to turn the lever.
• Once you turn off the gas, never attempt to turn it back on
  yourself. Wait for your utility company to do it, but be aware
  that it may take several days for it to be turned back on.
• Turn off utilities only if instructed to by Public Safety Offcials.

Smell Natural Gas? http://www.nationalgridus.com/rigas/safety/smell_gas.asp

Electricity
Electrocution can result from direct contact with live wires or anything that has been energized by these wires.

Locate your homes main electric switch, which is normally in the garage or outdoors, where the power lines enter the home. The panel box may have a flip switch or pull handle on a large circuit breaker.
Shut off electricity when:

• Arcing or burning occurs in electrical devices.
• There is a fire or significant water leak.
• You smell burning insulation.
• The area around switches or plugs is blackened and/or hot to the touch.
• A complete power loss is accompanied by the smell of burning material.

Go to the National Grids Storm Central  website for additional information.

Water
After a major earthquake, shut off water at the house to protect the water in your water heater, toilet tanks, and house pipes. Cracked pipes may allow contaminants into the water supply. In addition, water leaks can create property damage and electrocution hazards.The water shutoff is usually located in the basement, garage or where the water line enters the home.

• The water shutoff is
  located on a riser pipe and is usually a red or yellow wheel.
• Turn wheel clockwise to shut off. If you need to access water in your water heater, look for a drain line on the bottom of the water heater.

Providence Water Supply Board (PSWB)  or (401) 521-6300.

Sewer Service
A disaster that disrupts all or part of the Citys water and/or sewer lines could affect the way you deal with human waste.

• If there is no water to your toilet, but the sewer lines are intact, pour 3-5 gallons of water into the toilet bowl to flush. You may use seawater, bath, laundry or pool water
• If you suspect damage to your homes water lines, do NOT flush the toilet. Turn off water at the house so contaminated water does not enter your water system.
• If sewer lines are broken, line the bowl with double-bagged plastic garbage bags to collect human waste. Before discarding the bag, add a small amount of bleach; then seal the bag and place in a tightly covered container, away from people.
• If the toilet is unusable, use a sturdy bucket with a tight fitting lid, and line it with a double-bagged plastic garbage bag.

Narragansett Bay Commissions at 401-461-8848.