When storm clouds roll in and winds pick up speed, your family’s safety comes down to one thing – how well you are prepared. Here at City Power and Gas – Electric and Gas Company In Pennsylvania, we’ve helped thousands of families get through tough weather. This guide shows you exactly what to do before, during, and after storms hit your neighborhood.
Why Storm Prep Saves Lives
Storms pack a punch. Heavy rain, strong winds, and floods can knock out power lines and damage gas systems in minutes. You might lose electricity and natural gas for hours or even days. Without the right plan, your family could be in real danger.
We’ve watched families who prepared well stay safe and comfortable while others struggled. Our repair crews work around the clock to fix problems, but you can’t just wait and hope. Taking action now protects everyone you care about.
Your Meter Matters More Than You Think
Your power and gas meters do more than track what you use. They’re the key to getting your services back fast when storms cause damage. When our technicians can reach your meters easily, we can restore your power and gas much quicker.
Keep Meters Clear and Accessible
Smart homeowners follow these simple rules:
- Leave three feet of open space around each meter
- Cut back bushes and tree branches that block access
- Move cars, bikes, and other stuff out of the way
When our City Power and Gas teams can get to your meters without obstacles, we can spot problems and make fixes right away. This one step can save you hours without power or gas.
Shield Your Meters from Storm Damage
Flying debris and falling branches love to hit exposed meters. Here’s how to protect yours:
- Put up guard posts if your meter sits near where cars drive
- Check for damage after storms pass (but only when it’s safe)
- Call us right away if something looks wrong
Never touch or try to fix a damaged meter yourself. Our trained professionals handle all meter work to keep you safe.
Before the Storm: Get Ready Now
The best time to prepare isn’t when the storm’s already here. These steps help you stay safe and comfortable when power and gas go out.
Make a Family Emergency Plan
Every household needs a clear plan that covers:
- The safest room in your house during bad weather
- How to get out fast if you need to leave
- Where to meet outside if there’s a fire
- An out-of-town contact person for everyone to call
Practice this plan with your kids and make sure they know what to do if you get separated.
Build Your Emergency Supply Kit
Keep these items in one easy-to-grab container:
- Water (one gallon per person for three days minimum)
- Food that doesn’t need cooking
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Battery radio
- First aid supplies
- Important documents in waterproof bags
- Small bills and cash
- Special needs items for babies, seniors, or pets
Check your kit every six months and swap out anything that’s expired. Store it where you can find it even in complete darkness.
Prep Your Home’s Systems
Before storm season hits:
- Look for gas line damage or leaks
- Clean gutters so water can flow freely
- Remove dead tree branches near power lines
- Learn how to shut off gas, water, and electricity
If you smell gas or see damage to gas lines, call City Power and Gas – Natural Gas Company in Pennsylvania immediately. Don’t try any gas repairs yourself.
During the Storm: Stay Alive and Alert
When severe weather strikes, keeping your family safe beats everything else. Follow these rules to avoid danger.
Stay Inside No Matter What
Your home is the safest place when storms rage:
- Keep away from windows and doors
- Go to your home’s lowest level
- Pick a room with no windows if you can
- Bring pets inside with you
Don’t go outside unless it’s a life-or-death emergency. Wind-blown debris can hurt or kill you, even after the worst weather passes.
Power Outage Safety Rules
When the lights go out:
- Use flashlights, not candles (candles start fires)
- Unplug big appliances so they don’t get damaged when power returns
- Keep one light switched on so you’ll know when electricity comes back
- Don’t open your fridge or freezer doors
Never touch power lines that have fallen. They might look dead but can still kill you. Call City Power and Gas – Electric Company in Pennsylvania, the second you see downed lines.
Gas Safety During Bad Weather
If you smell gas during a storm:
- Get out of your house right now
- Don’t flip any light switches or use appliances
- Don’t use phones or electronics inside
- Call City Power and Gas or 911 from a safe place outside
- Stay out until officials say it’s okay to return
Gas leaks can cause explosions and fires. When you suspect trouble, leave first and call for help second.
After the Storm: Recovery Done Right
Once the weather clears, new challenges start. You’ll need to check for damage and wait for services to come back online.
Damage Check Safety
When it’s safe to go outside:
- Look at your house for problems
- Check your meter for visible damage
- Stay far away from any downed power lines
- Watch out for flooded streets and sidewalks
Take pictures of damage for insurance claims, but don’t touch anything that looks unsafe. Call us if you see issues with your power or gas service.
Keep Food Safe Without Power
Without electricity, food spoils fast:
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed
- A full freezer stays cold for 48 hours
- A refrigerator keeps food cold for 4 hours
- When you’re not sure, throw it out
Don’t taste food to see if it’s still good. If it’s been warmer than 40°F for over two hours, toss it.
Stay Comfortable During Long Outages
If you’re without power or gas for days:
- Wear layers to stay warm
- Close off rooms you’re not using
- Drink plenty of water and avoid hard work
- Check on your neighbors, especially older folks
In extreme hot or cold weather, think about going to a shelter or staying with friends who have power.
Power Outage Survival Guide
Losing power affects more than just your lights. Here’s how to handle blackouts safely.
First Steps When Power Goes Out
When everything goes dark:
- Stay calm and see if neighbors have power too
- Call City Power and Gas to report the outage
- Turn off and unplug electronics to protect them
- Use flashlights for light, never candles
Keep your phone charged as much as possible. A car charger helps if the power stays out for a long time.
Generator Safety Rules
If you own a generator:
- Never run it inside your house or garage
- Keep it at least 20 feet from doors and windows
- Don’t plug it straight into your home’s wiring
- Use heavy-duty outdoor extension cords only
Generators can kill you with carbon monoxide if you use them wrong. Always follow the safety rules that come with your unit.
Special Medical Needs
If someone in your home needs power for medical equipment:
- Talk to your doctor about backup options
- Consider getting a backup battery or generator
- Sign up with City Power and Gas for priority service
- Have a plan to go somewhere with power
City Power and Gas keeps a special list of customers who need power for medical reasons. Make sure you’re on this list if it applies to your family.
Gas Outage Safety Tips
Gas outages happen less often than power outages, but severe weather can cause them. Here’s how to stay safe.
During a Gas Service Interruption
If your gas gets shut off:
- Don’t try to turn it back on yourself
- Leave gas appliances off until service returns
- Stay warm with extra clothes and blankets
- Use safe alternative cooking methods
City Power and Gas must check your system before turning gas back on. This safety step takes time, so please be patient with us.
Stop Pipes from Freezing
In cold weather without gas heat, pipes can freeze:
- Let faucets drip a little to keep water moving
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air reach pipes
- Know where your main water shut-off valve is located
- Wrap pipes with insulation if you can
If pipes do freeze, don’t use an open flame to thaw them. Call a plumber instead.
When Gas Service Comes Back
Once City Power and Gas restores your gas:
- Our technicians need to come inside to relight pilot lights
- Someone must be home to let our crew in
- Don’t try to light pilots yourself
- Report any gas smells right away
Our trained technicians safely restore your gas service. Let them handle this job to keep your home safe.
How We Restore Your Services
After storms damage our systems, getting your power and gas back safely is our top goal. Here’s our process.
Power Restoration Steps
When power goes out, City Power and Gas follows this plan:
- We check our system to find what’s broken
- We fix problems that affect the most customers first
- We work down to smaller groups and single homes
- We make sure everything is safe before turning power back on
Big outages take longer to repair. We appreciate your patience while we restore everyone’s service.
Gas Restoration Process
Getting gas service back requires extra care:
- We inspect gas lines for leaks
- We verify the system is safe before restoring service
- We visit homes to relight pilot lights
- We test appliances to make sure they work safely
Gas safety is our number one concern. These steps protect your home and family from danger.
Stay Updated on Repairs
During outages, City Power and Gas keeps you informed:
- Check our website for outage maps and repair times
- Follow our social media for live updates
- Sign up for text alerts about your service
- Call our outage hotline for current information
Make sure we have your correct contact info so we can reach you with important updates.
Community Support Makes a Difference
Storms affect entire neighborhoods, not just single houses. When neighbors help each other, everyone stays safer.
Build Strong Neighborhood Networks
Communities that work together handle storms better:
- Start a neighborhood group to share storm information
- Create a phone tree to check on neighbors
- Plan to help people who might need extra support
- Share resources like generators or emergency supplies
City Power and Gas partners with community leaders to make sure help reaches those who need it most.
Help Neighbors Who Need Extra Care
Some people need more help during storms:
- Older adults may struggle to stay warm or get around
- Families with babies need special supplies
- People with medical conditions may depend on powered devices
- Those who can’t move easily may need evacuation help
Check on your neighbors before and after storms hit. A simple offer to help can save someone’s life.
Community Emergency Resources
Many towns have storm recovery resources:
- Shelters with power, food, and water
- Phone and medical device charging stations
- Supply distribution points for ice and water
- Cleanup and repair volunteer teams
City Power and Gas works with local emergency managers to support these efforts and help communities recover faster.
City Power and Gas: Your Storm Safety Partner
At City Power and Gas, we’re more than your utility company. We’re your neighbors and your partners in keeping families safe during severe weather.
Our Promise to You
We commit to:
- Respond quickly to outages and emergencies
- Keep you informed with timely, accurate updates
- Restore services safely and efficiently
- Help you prepare for future storms
- Support our community during recovery
Our team trains all year to handle storm-related outages. When bad weather hits, we’re ready to help you and your family.
Extra Resources We Provide
City Power and Gas offers these helpful resources:
- Online storm preparation guides and checklists
- Mobile apps to report outages and get live updates
- Energy-saving tips to lower your monthly bills
- Special programs for customers with medical or mobility needs
Visit our website or call our customer service team to learn more about these resources and how we can help you get ready for storm season.
Stay Connected With Us
Make sure you can reach us when emergencies happen:
- Save our outage reporting number in your phone
- Follow our social media accounts for real-time updates
- Sign up for email or text alert services
- Keep your contact information current in our system
When you stay connected with City Power and Gas, you get the information you need to keep your family safe during storms.
Final Thoughts: Preparation Saves Lives
Storms can be scary, but being ready makes all the difference between safety and disaster. With the right plan, supplies, and knowledge, you can protect your family until we restore your power and gas service.
Remember these key safety points:
- Keep your meters clear so we can restore service faster
- Prepare before storms with emergency kits and family plans
- Stay safe during storms by following electrical and gas safety rules
- Check on neighbors and build community support networks
- Trust City Power and Gas to restore services safely and quickly
At City Power and Gas, we’re proud to serve our community, especially during challenging times. We’re here to help you prepare for, survive, and recover from storms safely.
For more storm safety information and resources from City Power and Gas, visit our website or call our customer service team. Together, we can make sure our community stays safe and strong, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.