• Secure natural gas equipment to minimize movement during a quake.
• Store combustible items like paint cans and rags away from your furnace and water heater. And keep items like paper and curtains away from combustible items.
• Store flammable liquids away from ignition sources.
• Replace semi-rigid gas connectors on appliances with flexible ones.
• Ensure any gas flame is at least 18 inches above floor level.
• Know how to shut off your gas meter. (Watch the video below.)
• Research earthquake shut-off valves, to see if they're right for you. (Watch the video below.)
• Make a plan: Agree on how to communicate before, during and after a disaster with family and friends, and assume you may not be together. Visit ready.gov for tips to complete your plan.
• Build a kit: Gather essential supplies that will last for at least two weeks after a disaster for everyone in your home, including pets. Download an emergency kit list at redcross.org.
• Be aware of your environment: Know disaster risks in your area, such as storm, heat wave and earthquake trends. Visit Oregon and Washington hazard information for more.
• Stay informed: Sign up for emergency notifications in your county so you know what's happening in your area.

Be prepared for communication and service delays. It could be days before natural gas is restored to your home.

Check for:
The smell of gas, the sound of gas blowing or other signs of a gas leak.
To do: If you don't notice any of the above, leave your gas on.

If you do suspect a gas leak, turn the gas off if you can do so safely. LEAVE IT OFF, and call us at 800-882-3377. Do not turn it back on yourself. Appliances and natural gas lines will need to be checked for possible damage before service can be safely restored.

Check for:
Flammable items that may have fallen or spilled near natural gas appliances.

To do: 
If you can do so safely, move the items a safe distance away from the appliances.

Check for:
A closed earthquake valve, if you have one installed.

To do: 
Contact a qualified, licensed contractor to reset the valve and relight your natural gas appliances.

• If water rises to the level of your gas meter or appliances, turn off your gas at the meter if you can do so safely.
• Avoid flooded areas where you have appliances with high-voltage electricity. Gas appliances are made with safety systems designed to shut off the gas.
• Tell us if you turn off your meter so we can follow up after the waters recede.

• Do not turn your meter back on if it has been turned off. Call for a NW Natural technician to come out.
• Do not try to use a flooded meter or any gas equipment.
• Call NW Natural to reactivate your equipment and meter, if it's not submerged.
• Any submerged gas equipment must be inspected by a qualified, licensed HVAC technician or plumber before you can use it again.

Stop the flow of gas.

How an earthquake shut-off valve works:

Earthquake shut-off valves sense ground movement or shaking and shut off the flow of gas automatically.
Installation costs and tips:
NW Natural can’t install, maintain, service or reset an earthquake shut-off valve. Hire a qualified, licensed contractor to install it on your houseline on your meter, not on the service line or within the “meter set assembly” installed and maintained by NW Natural.

Limit damage and leaks with an excess flow valve (EFV). NW Natural has installed more than 275,000 EFVs system-wide, but you can request one for your property.

How an EFV works:
An EFV is a device that automatically closes and restricts the flow of natural gas if an underground gas line breaks or is completely cut. An EFV will not protect against appliance malfunction, leakage or punctures on a customer-owned houseline or at the gas meter. An EFV installation may not be possible in some cases. Examples include areas with natural gas delivery pressure less than 10 psi, where the volume of gas used will cause the EFV to be ineffective or in other circumstances where the effectiveness of the EFV could be hindered.

Installation tips:
EFVs get installed underground on the service line that runs from the gas main line to your gas meter, typically as close to the gas main line as possible.
You're responsible for the entire cost of the EFV installation, which varies greatly due to different installation conditions, and can exceed $1,000. NW Natural will provide a cost estimate and installation schedule following a site visit. Ongoing maintenance of the EFV is available at no additional cost.

To request an EFV installation, or to find out if an EFV is already installed, please call us at 503-226-4211 x4344.

Residential methane detectors, also known as natural gas detectors, operate similarly to a smoke or carbon monoxide detector. It will emit an alarm if methane from a potential leak is detected.

• Install a UL-approved natural gas detector.
• Follow the manufacturer's placement and maintenance instructions.
• NW Natural does not install or service these devices.

Remember: if you suspect, or are alerted to, a gas leak, do not search for the source. Leave immediately, then call 911 and NW Natural's 24-hour emergency line at 800-882-3377.