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Prepare Your Home For Floods

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In the wake of the substantial flooding that has recently occurred in Texas and Oklahoma AmeriGas wants you to be prepared. In all, 37.3 trillion gallons of water have fallen over the state of Texas in May, the National Weather Service said. After more than a week of devastating rain, more than 4,000 properties were destroyed. Here are some quick tips about ways to prepare your home before, during, and after a flood.

Before:

Create an emergency preparedness plan and review it regularly with your family in order to keep them safe during a potential disaster. 

Know how and where to shut off the outdoor propane supply and indoor propane appliances. For more information, contact your propane retailer

Make sure that you and your family know what propane smells like. Propane has a strong, unpleasant smell like rotten eggs, a skunk’s spray, or a dead animal. 

Review the flood safety brochure

During:

Shut off the gas! 

Turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank, if it is safe to do so. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise). 

Turn off the gas supply valves located near individual indoor appliances. Consult your propane retailer to make sure you know where the actual valves are located and how to shut them off. 

After:

If you suspect any of your propane appliances, equipment, or vehicles have been under water or they have been damaged, or you have turned off your gas supply, schedule a time for a qualified service technician to perform a complete inspection of your propane system. The technician can also perform a leak test on the system and re-light your pilot lights. 

Do not use or operate appliances, equipment, or vehicles, or turn on the gas supply, until your system has been inspected by a qualified service technician. 

If you find a propane tank on your property that is not yours, or if your propane tank has become dislodged or is missing, contact your propane retailer or your local fire department immediately. 

Inspect your propane appliances for water or other damage, if it is safe to do so. If the appliances have electric components and have been exposed to water, they can create a fire hazard. 

For more information on what to do to prepare for a flood, or other severe weather events, contact your local AmeriGas office. To view the complete list of flood safety tips visit www.propanesafetyfirst.com.

Promote safety all season long, follow these simple steps.