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Prepare for Hurricane Season |
At the beginning of each hurricane
season, you should reacquaint yourself with the safety measures
you should take with your utility services. Florida Public
Utilities recommends the following procedures and precautions.
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When A Hurricane Threatens
Leave the gas on. Unless notified by the Company, leave your
gas on. Because most gas facilities are located underground,
rarely does a hurricane threaten your service.
Check yard for loose items. Move or secure items not firmly
installed. This includes grills, patio furniture, swings,
pool equipment and supplies, even water hose reels. Items
such as these can be blown around by hurricane winds causing
unnecessary damage to your home, propane tank or gas meter.
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If Asked To Evacuate |
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Leave the gas on. Turning off the gas could result in unnecessary
delays in restoring your service. It is not
necessary to turn off the gas at your meter
or, if you use propane, at your tank. Should
FPU deem it necessary to turn off the service,
Company representatives will inform you. By
leaving the gas on, you will be able to cook
and, as long as there is a reliable supply of
water, you will have hot water. Leaving gas
on also helps you avoid reconnection fees. |
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After A Hurricane |
Clean up efforts. Clean-up
efforts after previous hurricanes show that
more gas lines are broken during clean-up than
during the actual storm.
Before removing fallen trees call for a FREE
utility line location 1-800-432-4770.
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If you smell gas |
Immediately evacuate the
premises and call your local FPU office. It
is important to call from a telephone away from
the building where you smell gas.
In the case of a gas leak, our first responsibility
is to make sure the area is safe. Service will
be restored as soon as possible.
All FPU personnel carry identification and will,
upon request, show their identification before
entering your home. |
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Flooding Occurs |
If your home
or business was flooded and gas appliances were
underwater, do not attempt to operate the appliances.
Water can cause damage to the internal safety
mechanism and create a hazardous condition.
Call FPU or a qualified appliance contractor
for a safety inspection and to relight the pilot
lights on your appliances.
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Range |
Gas ranges with pilot
lights require no additional care. Continue
to cook as usual. When the electricity is off,
surface top burners with electric ignition can
be easily lit. Simply:
- Light match (preferably a wooden match)
- Hold match next to the top burner cap
- Then turn the control knob to the “light”
or “high” setting. The burner will
light and you can adjust the flame.
Most ovens and broilers on ranges with electric
ignition cannot be used when the power is off. |
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Dryer |
| Most dryers
have a safety valve which automatically shut
off the flow of gas. In addition, your gas dryer
needs electricity to operate. |
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Outdoor Grill |
A portable grill should
either be moved inside or securely tied down
outside. A grill with a patio base should either
be bolted down or disconnected and brought inside.
A grill with a permanent post is usually secure
and does not need any additional tie down. The
lid of any gas grill remaining outside should
be securely tied closed to prevent it from snapping
open.
Although your grill can be stored indoors, be
sure that the propane (LP) cylinders are secured
outdoors. DO NOT operate a grill indoors.
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Water Heaters/Pool and Spa Heaters |
| Most water, pool and spa
heaters have a safety valve, which will automatically
shut off the flow of gas if the pilot light
goes out. |
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