June 1st marks the official start of hurricane season on the east coast. Now through November, it is important to be prepared in case our region experiences flooding, storms, and power outages.
The importance of keeping your family and home safe in the event of a hurricane cannot be stressed enough. But propane tanks on your property are at the mercy of hurricanes too, and 'storm-proofing' them is part of the preparedness drill.
Follow these 9 steps to make sure the propane products on your property are well-protected in the unfortunate event of a hurricane hitting our region this season:
1. Be sure trees and shrubs around your home and tank are well-trimmed. This will protect them from damage caused by loose limbs in high winds.
2. Secure your tank. High winds can dislodge propane tanks, and water and debris can damage the controls, causing safety issues. In flood zone areas, large propane tanks should be anchored securely to avoid potentially dangerous situations. This is required by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). Contact us to determine if and how anchoring your tank should be done.
3. Post contact information for emergency services and utility companies - including Superior Energy as your propane supplier - in your home. You should also post instructions for turning off your propane, electricity, and water. (If you turn off your propane, contact us so that a service technician can inspect your system before turning it back on.)
Propane Safety: How To Turn The Tank Off
4. Make sure you always have enough supply of propane during this season. In the aftermath of a hurricane event, it may not be readily available. This is especially true if you have a propane backup generator that will be utilized during a power outage.
5. If a storm causes harm to your property, be careful when you assess damage as downed power lines, damaged gas lines, and dislodged propane tanks can lead to dangerous situations. In the dark, use a flashlight instead of candles to avoid combustion in the case of a leak, and never inspect appliances while standing in water. If there are any issues with propane, don’t try to fix it yourself. Report it to us and let us handle it. Do not, under any circumstance, try to modify or repair valves, regulators or other appliance parts.
6. Don’t use outdoor propane appliances, like BBQ grills, portable generators, etc. indoors, as you risk carbon monoxide poisoning.
7. Don’t store propane tanks in an enclosed area like your basement or garage.
8. If propane appliances have been exposed to water, be on your guard. Don’t use any power source while standing in water as electrocution is a possibility.
9. If your propane system sustained damage, call our professional service techs to perform a complete propane system inspection and wait for the all-clear before you handle propane in the aftermath of a hurricane.
BONUS! Consider upgrading to our worry-free remote tank monitoring app service
See your tank level with a convenient app, available for download on your smartphone. Increase your peace-of-mind and keep your family comfortable.
NO more trudging outside in inclement weather to check your tank
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Save energy & money - no more costly run-outs
Monitor your tank & fuel usage from anywhere, anytime
If you have any questions about propane safety, contact our office at 860-875-6221 or email us at info@PropaneCT.com
