Chattanooga Gas shares important safety tips to help customers prepare for the 2025 hurricane season

Chattanooga, GA – June 9, 2025 - June marks the start of hurricane season, and Chattanooga Gas is encouraging its customers to start preparing for an active 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasters predict an above normal season with six to 10 hurricanes, three to five of them being Category three or higher.

With safety being Chattanooga Gas’ number one value, the company reminds customers to prioritize safety as they prepare for potential severe weather this hurricane season. Customers are encouraged to follow these important natural gas safety tips before, during and after severe weather alerts:

Detecting Gas Leaks

• If you smell the distinctive “rotten egg” odor associated with natural gas, leave the area immediately and move away from the potential leak.
• Look for blowing dirt, discolored vegetation or continued bubbling in standing water.
• Never try to identify the source of a leak or stop the leak on your own.
• Avoid using any sources of ignition, such as cellphones, cigarettes, matches, flashlights, electronic devices, motorized vehicles, light switches or landlines, as natural gas can ignite from a spark and cause a fire or an explosion.
• Call the Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-643-4170 and 911 once you are in a safe location away from potential leak.

Generator Safety

• A natural gas home generator can provide peace of mind and keep your household running smoothly during unexpected blackouts. Customers are encouraged to use them properly to ensure their family’s safety.
• Never use a generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed space.
• Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “backfeeding.”
• Plug appliances directly into the generator or use a heavy-duty extension cord that is rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads.
• Customers are encouraged to contact Chattanooga Gas prior to the purchase or installation of a natural gas generator to determine whether their service line and meter meet load requirements for the generator’s safe and efficient operation.

Meter Safety

• Know the location of your natural gas meter.
• Do not attempt to turn off your gas supply at the meter. Only Atlanta Gas Light or emergency personnel should turn the valve on or off.
• After the storm, make sure your natural gas meter is visible, and the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used during storm clean-up could damage the meter if it is hidden.
• If your natural gas meter is damaged or an underground gas line is exposed, leave the area immediately and call 911 or the Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-643-4170 from a safe location.

Damage Prevention

• Intense winds and saturated ground can cause trees to become uprooted. Contact Tennessee 811 to request that the underground utility lines be marked. This is important because the tree roots could become tangled with utility lines.
• If a natural gas meter is damaged or a natural gas line is exposed, please immediately leave the area and call 911 and the Chattanooga Gas 24-hour emergency response line at 1-866-643-4170 from a safe location.

The United States Department of Homeland Security launched the Ready campaign, a National public service campaign, in 2003 to educate people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies and disasters. Visit ready.gov to see tips for hurricane preparedness. For additional natural gas safety precautions, visit our website at chattanoogagas.com and click the safety tab.

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About Chattanooga Gas
Chattanooga Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Chattanooga Gas provides retail natural gas sales and transportation services to approximately 71,000 customers in Hamilton and Bradley counties in southeast Tennessee. The Chattanooga Gas service area includes the communities of Chattanooga, Cleveland, Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain. For more information, visit chattanoogagas.com.

Media Contact:
Ashley Hoffman
678.357.1685 |  ahoffman@southernco.com