Flooding and Propane Tank Safety
Prepare for Heavy Rain with these Tips
We’ve seen record amounts of rain across the Louisiana and Mississippi this year. If you use an above ground propane tank in your yard, it may have recently crossed your mind what safety precautions you should take in the event of a flood.
Do You Live in a Mississippi or Louisiana Flood Zone?
To find out if you live in a flood zone, you can put your address into the FEMA Flood Map. The map will be able to tell you if you live within a flood boundary and the chances you have of flooding.
Step One: Secure Your Tank
Even if you do not live in a flood zone, you should secure your propane tank. Flooding is beginning to strike more and more areas that are not specifically designated as flood zones. It’s best to be on the safe side, and if your tank is not properly secured, it may float away during a flood.
Securing the tank is something we do during installations for our Neill Gas customers, but there are some resources about how to anchor your tank online from FEMA and others.
Step Two: Fill it Up
A propane tank will not float away if the water level is below the liquid propane level. Call Neill Gas to make sure that your tank is filled during the rainy season if your tank is at risk of being submerged. Empty tanks float very easily in flood waters.
Step Three: Close the Valve
If you anticipate a flood, shut off the gas by closing the propane tank’s service valve. You can do this by turning it clockwise.
Step Four: After the Storm
If you’ve closed the valve, you need to get a propane leak test from Neill Gas in order to put your system back into service.
Call Neill Gas to Prepare for Flooding
If you don’t think you’re flood-ready, call Neill Gas. We’ll make sure you’re safely prepared for high water.
Sources: Propane 101