Atmos Energy : Natural Gas Customers Urged to Act Safely in Preparation for Hurricane Laura

Atmos Energy continues to monitor and prepare for Hurricane Laura, urging residents in the path of severe weather to take steps that help ensure personal safety.

'Atmos Energy wants you and your family to be safe in any situation,' said John McDill, Atmos Energy vice president of pipeline safety. 'If your home or business is affected by flooding, tropical storms, hurricanes or a similar event, we want to remind customers to not use natural gas equipment if it is flooded or damaged without first contacting a qualified service person to have it inspected.'

If you suspect a natural gas leak or think you smell natural gas inside the home or neighborhood, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy Emergency Number at 1-866-322-8667.

Atmos Energy service technicians are emergency responders and necessary for the safe operation of our system, performing essential services in compliance with social distancing guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of everyone. Whether it is a storm, flooding, or other severe weather event, please observe these tips to stay safe:

• During a natural disaster or severe weather event DO NOT turn off natural gas at the meter, even if evacuations are issued.
• If you smell gas, immediately leave the affected area and from a safe distance call 911 or Atmos Energy's 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-322-8667.
• NEVER try to find the source of a gas leak.
• DO NOT use a mobile phone or anything that might cause a spark, such as a generator.
• If flooding occurs at a residence or business and the gas appliances are under water, do not try to operate the appliances. Instead, contact Atmos Energy or a qualified service professional to conduct a safety inspection.
• If a natural gas meter is damaged or a gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call the Atmos Energy 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-322-8667.
• Know where your natural gas meter is located. Make sure it's visible and free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used to clean up after a storm may damage the meter if it is hidden.
• Natural gas distribution pipelines are mostly underground but can be damaged by uprooted trees and shifted foundations. After a storm, call 811 to have the location of underground utility lines marked, as gas service lines could become tangled.
• Atmos Energy customers experiencing a natural gas outage or service interruption should contact the company's customer service number at 1-888-286-6700. Customers will be restored as quickly as possible once the area is deemed safe.

For natural gas safety tips during severe weather, please visit https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/weather-safetyto learn what do with your natural gas systems and equipment.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation is the nation's largest fully regulated, natural gas-only distributor of safe, clean, efficient and affordable energy. As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and our infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. An S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, Atmos Energy serves more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states and manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Find us online at http://www.atmosenergy.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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