Gas and Water: What to Do in an Emergency

Editor's note: The Community Emergency Preparedness Academy is an eight-week program in Aliso Viejo that teaches residents what to do in an emergency. Each week we will provide tips and information from the sessions. The workshop began Feb. 8.

This week's Community Emergency Preparedness Academy session focused on two topics: gas and water.

"Natural gas is not poisonous and is odorless," said Duane Cave, public affairs manager from Southern California Gas Co. "We actually add a pungent odor to it so that you can detect it. In order to light natural gas,  you need a 4-to-14-percent gas-to-air ratio and something to ignite it with. A cigarette burns at 900 [degrees] Fahrenheit; that won't ignite the gas. But a match that burns at 2000 [degrees] will ignite it."

During a major earthquake, some residents think, the first thing to turn off is the gas. According to Cave, if you're in doubt, turn the gas off. Otherwise,  leave it on just in case it's needed for cooking or heat.

"To detect if you have a leak, take a look at the small meters [measured in single feet] and see if they are moving," Cave said. "If those two meters are moving and no appliances are on, call the gas company for an inspection. It's free of charge, and safety is our top priority."

During a suspected gas leak, it is best to open all the windows and doors in a house, according to Cave. Natural gas rises to the atmosphere and will eventually dissipate.

The next speaker was Todd Novacek, safety supervisor from the Moulton Niguel Water District.

"Northridge [earthquake] was considered a disaster," Novacek said. "But Hurricane Katrina was considered a catastrophe. We prepare for a catastrophe in our district."

According to Novacek, every family should be prepared with ample water. Around 50 gallons of washing water and at least two weeks' worth of drinking water should be kept in case of an emergency. It should be cycled every five to six months in order to keep the water fresh.

"Our response goals are continuation of service, NIMS [National Incident Management System] compliance and a FEMA reimbursement," he said. "But safety is our first priority."

There are three ways to filter water, according to Novacek. Using a combination of the methods will yield the best results.

• BOILING: Boiling is one of the safest methods to purify water. In order to make sure the water is pure, bring it to a roiling boil for three to five minutes. Then let it cool, and pour the water back and forth between two clean containers. This adds oxygen to improve the taste.
• DISINFECTION: Unscented household bleach can be used to disinfect water. Make sure the bleach does not contain any added cleaners. Pour a gallon of water, and add 16 drops to it and wait 30 minutes in order to disinfect. If it doesn't have a slight bleach odor, add an additional 16 drops of bleach and let the water stand for 15 minutes. Repeat the process until it smells slightly like bleach.
• DISTILLATION: To distill water, fill a pot halfway with water. Make sure the pot is made completely of steel (no Teflon or other materials.) Turn the lid upside down so the handle faces the water. Next, tie a cup to the handle and boil the water. The water will evaporate on to the handle, free of chemicals or microorganisms and condense into water to fill the cup.