ABC7 ORIGINAL SERIES: 'The Earthquake Effect' provides in-depth coverage on Bay Area's readiness for the next major earthquake
You must turn off the natural gas following a quake, otherwise you could end up with a major fire. Fire is what causes the majority of damage after an earthquake.
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You turn off the gas by finding the switch on the top of the meter. This is how you turn off and on natural gas. The knob going up-and-down means the gas is on; the knob needs to be turned flat (perpendicular to the ground) to be shut off.
Generally, you can turn the knob with your fingers -- but not always. So, you should have a wrench hanging next to your meter. They make specialty wrenches, but you don't need them -- an adjustable wrench, like a crescent wrench is just fine. But make sure you put that near your meter, and most importantly, that you find your meter before the next quake.
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Take a look at more stories and videos by Michael Finney and 7 On Your Side.