EMERGENCY RESPONDERS & PUBLIC OFFICIALS



Natural Gas Characteristics:

  • Is lighter than air
  • Is not toxic
  • Is odorless in its natural state
  • Treated gas smells like rotten eggs
  • Natural Gas should not be confused with Propane which is heavier than air
  • The Explosive or Burning Range is 5% to 15% Gas to Air Mixture
  • View Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) for more information


Recognizing a Pipeline Emergency

The best way to recognize a pipeline leak is by using your eyes, ears and nose.

Look – Persistent bubbling in standing water or discolored vegetation are signs of a possible leak around the pipeline area. 

Listen – Listen for any unusual noise like a hissing or roaring sound.

Smell – Notice any strange or unusual odor (the products will have a smell like rotten eggs).

In some instances you may not smell the gas if the wind is blowing it away from you.  It is important to use your ears and eyes as well as your nose to recognize a potential problem.

On occasion, a pressure-relieving device may activate at an aboveground pipeline facility. These devices are acting as designed to relieve pressure on the system to prevent over pressurization.

Natural Gas Emergency Situations:

  1. Gas Escaping Outside – Control ignition sources.
  2. Gas Burning Outside – Let it burn! Burning will not explode!
  3. Gas Escaping Inside – Do not operate electrical switches.
  4. Gas Burning Inside - Shut the gas valve off at the meter and leave it off.
  5. A Blowing Relief Valve – Let it blow but call the gas company.


Under no circumstances should a pressure relieving device be capped or turned-off.



Responding to an Emergency

If you are an emergency responder or public official, take steps to safeguard the public in the event of a pipeline emergency. The following suggestions are offered as a guide:


  • If Natural Gas is involved in an emergency -  Notify The City of Alpine Gas Dept as quickly as possible. Our telephone number during normal working hours is 432-837-3437.  And after hours Emergency Phone Number is 432-294-1529.  There are pipeline marker signs in right of ways that show the pipeline company's name, emergency telephone number and pipeline contents.
  • Secure the area around the emergency site to a safe distance taking into account wind and migration of natural gas. Control access and entry to the emergency site. It may be necessary to evacuate the public or have a public shelter in place depending on the situation.  If necessary, Be sure to Evacuate people upwind and to a safe distance from the emergency site.
  • Take steps to prevent ignition by prohibiting smoking, rerouting traffic, shutting off the electricity, and starting or turning off electrical equipment (cell phones, pagers, two-way radios, lights).
  • If the pipeline is burning, try to prevent the spread of fire but do not attempt to extinguish it. If the fire is extinguished, gas or vapor will collect and could explode when reignited by secondary fires.
  • Establish a command center. Work with the Gas Department's representatives as you develop a plan to address the emergency.  The City of Alpine Gas Dept will work with the fire department’s Incident Command System.



City of Alpine Gas Deptartment's Actions During an Emergency

We will immediately dispatch personnel to the site to help handle the emergency and provide information to public safety officials to aid in their response. We will also take the necessary operating actions to restrict the flow of gas and minimize the impact of the emergency. Public safety personnel and other unauthorized personnel should not attempt to operate any of the valves on the Distribution System. Improper operation of the Distribution pipeline valves could make the situation worse and cause other accidents to happen.

Incident Command System

The City of Alpine Gas Dept will work with the fire department’s Incident Command System.  Our personnel are trained and qualified in emergency leak response and receive training for emergency response scenarios.


Natural Gas Do’s:

  • Protect life then property
  • Notify The City of Alpine Gas Dept immediately
  • Treat all gas leaks as potentially hazardous
  • Control all potential ignition sources
  • Evacuate structures as needed
  • Secure affected areas
  • Use only properly calibrated detection equipment
  • Always anticipate and expect that an explosion could occur
  • Use only intrinsically-safe equipment, such as, communications and other electrically-operated equipment


 
Natural Gas Don’ts:


  • Don’t park over, in front of or downwind of emergency locations
  • Don’t park over manhole, valve covers, storm drains or too close to structures
  • Don’t use open flames (flares,  smoking, other sources)
  • Don’t operate any in-ground, underground or above ground valves
  • Don’t operate any potential ignition sources (doorbells, light switches, pagers, cell phones, radios)
  • Don’t turn off venting relief valves
  • Don’t extinguish gas fires until fuel sources have been secured and shutoff
  • Don’t attempt to make repairs to gas facilities
  • Don’t ventilate structures with non-intrinsically safe fans/blowers



Carbon Monoxide Emergencies:

  • Things to look for:  Condensation on windows and burning eyes upon entering premises; CO monitor alarming
  • Exposure Symptoms:  Headache or breathing difficulty


Locating Gas Pipelines

Pipeline markers can be found where a pipeline intersects a street, highway or railway. It is a federal crime to damage, remove or destroy a pipeline marker. Do not rely upon a Pipeline marker to indicate the exact position of the gas pipeline.  The markers display the material transported in the line, the name of the pipeline operator, and a telephone number where the operator can be reached in the event of an emergency. 


Free Training Materials 

www.pipelineemergencies.com offers free training material available to local emergency responders.    All were developed with input from the fire service, the pipeline industry, and PHMSA.

National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) has developed an iPhone app called "Pipeline Emergencies" that is available free of charge through the Apple Store. 

Additional Resources and Information


Contact Information 


Alpine -  
Customer Service 432-837-3437
Leak emergency 432-837-3437 or 432-294-1529

Fort Davis - 
Customer Service  1-855-337-3437
Leak emergency  1-855-337-3437 or 432-294-1529