As crews worked to restore electric service after Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Okaloosa County as a Category 2 storm on Oct. 9, Okaloosa Gas District officials say the storm drew attention to a piece of local infrastructure most residents never see.
- Okaloosa Gas District delivers natural gas to homes and businesses through an underground pipeline network. According to the district, appliances that run on natural gas, from water heaters to generators, can keep operating when the power is out.
“Every storm season, we hear from customers who still had a hot shower and a hot meal while they waited for the lights to come back on,” said Okaloosa Gas District Vice President of Marketing Eddie Springle. “Most people don’t think about their gas service until the power goes out. That’s usually when they notice it’s still working.”
Okaloosa Gas has served the community for more than 70 years. According to the district, it has maintained continuous service through storms and hurricanes in that time, aside from isolated areas that were intentionally shut down for emergency and safety reasons.
Why underground matters
Unlike overhead power lines, the district’s natural gas lines run underground, out of reach of the wind that brings down power lines during a storm. District officials say that doesn’t make them immune to storm damage.
Nationally, the American Gas Association reports that natural gas reaches customers through a 2.8 million-mile underground pipeline system that is largely looped and shielded from many major disruptive events.
“Being underground protects us from a lot, but not everything,” Springle said. “When a tree is uprooted and its roots have grown around a service line, it can pull that line up with it. If a tree comes down near your meter or where your gas line runs, call us before anyone starts cutting or moving it.”
Are your appliances storm ready?
Not every natural gas appliance works the same way when the electricity goes out, according to the district. Some can keep running without power, while others, including many newer ranges and cooktops, rely on electronic ignition or may shut their gas valve during an outage.
The district recommends residents learn how their own appliances operate before the next storm. Details for each type of appliance, along with storm preparation and recovery tips, are available at okaloosagas.com/storm-safety.
The district also notes that natural gas generator owners should keep up with routine maintenance so the equipment is ready when it is needed.
“A natural gas generator doesn’t depend on a gas can or a trip to the gas station in the middle of a recovery,” Springle said. “But it does need regular service. We’d rather people schedule that now than find out it won’t start the next time the power goes out.”
Reliability is one part of the case the district makes to homeowners considering a switch. Okaloosa Gas also says natural gas heating and water heating have historically cost 10% to 50% less than electricity, and it cites a National Association of Home Builders survey that found natural gas homes sold for 6% more on average than electric homes.
After the storm: Safety reminders
Okaloosa Gas asks residents whose homes flooded, and whose natural gas appliances came in contact with floodwater, to call 850-729-4700 so the district can inspect the meter and appliances for damage.
The district advises residents not to relight appliances, work on or around the gas meter, or clear flood debris from a meter or appliance on their own. It also warns against using unlicensed or unauthorized individuals for repairs, which can be unsafe and may void a warranty.
With storm cleanup still underway in many neighborhoods, the district reminds residents to call 811 or request a line locate through Sunshine 811 at least two full business days before digging, uprooting trees or grinding stumps.
“If you’re pulling out a tree that came down in the storm, call 811 first,” Springle said. “And if anything with your gas service doesn’t seem right, always call us.”
The district also offers cash rebates on several natural gas appliances, including furnaces and water heaters, and runs seasonal sales throughout the year. Current offers are listed at okaloosagas.com/specials. Residents can check whether natural gas is available at their address or schedule a free in-home consultation by calling 850-729-4700.
