Emergency preparedness is critical to providing safe and reliable natural gas to our customers. By being prepared, we're able to respond quickly, effectively and safely when emergencies happen.
Emergency Centers
The Emergency Operations Center and Regional Gas Emergency Centers play a key role in our emergency response by serving as central coordination centers for recovery strategies, customer communications and coordination with public officials. The centers are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by experts who receive specialized training in emergency response. Our workforce keeps their skills sharp by participating in disaster exercises.
The center is open up to 24 hours a day during disasters that affect the operation of our natural gas facilities. Our emergency response teams work with public officials, law enforcement, fire departments and others to assess impacts, contain the crisis, and protect public and employee safety. In addition to crisis containment and safety management, our goal is to maintain natural gas service and, if needed, restore natural gas service as quickly as possible.
Below are some key areas of responsibilities that the Emergency Operations Center coordinates in an emergency.
Damage Assessment
After a major emergency or disaster, we act quickly to assess any damages to our pipeline system.
Damage assessment starts with a physical patrol of our transmission and distribution pipeline systems. This initial assessment helps us develop an estimate of crews required, resources and materials needed, as well as the estimated time to complete restoration. The assessment helps ensure restoration resources are deployed effectively.
Logistics
SoCalGas® is well-stocked with emergency materials and equipment stored throughout our service territory. After an emergency, our Emergency Response Team initiates a logistics plan that includes staging sites, hotels, food and other items necessary to support crews from outside of the affected area or crews from other companies.
Restoring Natural Gas Service
If natural gas service has been disrupted, the restoration process typically starts with the large transmission pipelines required to bring natural gas into the region, followed by distribution lines which move the gas into communities and around neighborhoods. Service lines that bring natural gas to individual homes and businesses are addressed once the transmission and distribution systems are repaired.
In the event of a major emergency, it may not be possible to provide meaningful restoration information right away as we assess the extent of the damage to our system.
In the Event of an Emergency, Keep in Mind –
- Our highly trained workforce is dedicated to restoring service as quickly and safely as possible. Crews from throughout our service area will be reassigned to damaged areas to help us restore service in an orderly manner.
- Our agreements with out-of-town utility crews will bring in extra assistance if needed.
- Our customer service representatives are on call during major emergencies of extended duration. Our automated voice response system allows us to handle thousands of calls simultaneously.
- If you suspect a natural gas leak call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200.
- Personnel from our corporate communications department are available seven days a week to provide customers, the media and public officials with the latest information.