BLACK HILLS ENERGY NATURAL GAS FLOOD SAFETY ADVISORY FOR EASTERN NEBRASKA & WESTERN IOWA AREAS ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER
Before a flood
Q: What is Black Hills Energy doing to prepare for the potential flooding?
A: Safety is Black Hills Energy’s top priority. We are working closely with city leaders and emergency officials to monitor flooding threats and potential disruptions to the natural gas service we provide.
Q: What should I do if water begins to enter my home or business?
A: If it appears floodwaters may enter your home or business, or may reach your natural gas meter, call Black Hills Energy immediately at 800-694-8989 to have service disconnected. This will ensure that we can shut off and plug your meter set if it is in an area that may flood.
If you have time, unplug as many appliances as you can – including natural gas appliances. If you want to move your natural gas appliances to a higher-level or somewhere else, you must call Black Hills Energy to first disconnect service.
Q: If flooding is imminent, will Black Hills Energy disconnect my service?
A: For safety reasons, we will temporarily shut off natural gas service to customers who are immediately affected or threatened by flooding. Meters may also be removed and / or your meter set plugged to protect your home or business and our natural gas system upon voluntary or mandated evacuations.
Black Hills Energy turns off the natural gas at locations affected by flooding as a safety measure to avoid the risk of natural gas leaks that may occur when equipment or appliances are submerged and pilot lights are extinguished.
Q: How will I know if Black Hills Energy disconnected my service?
A: If no one is home or a business is closed, a tag will be left on the door notifying the customer that the natural gas has been shut off and to call the company for it to be turned back on.
Q: Will I be charged a disconnection or reconnection fee if my service is disconnected?
A: If your service is disconnected due to flooding, you will not be charged a disconnection fee. Once the waters recede and your service is restored, you will also not be charged a fee to reconnect your service.
Q: What happens to the gas in the pipes once my service is disconnected?
A: Our goal is to maintain the gas pressure in mains and service lines. The pressure will keep water and other contaminates, such as river silt, out of the gas piping. This is contingent upon how quickly we flood waters arrive and if we have enough time to get every meter set turned off and plugged before the water covers them.
Q: How do I restore service to an affected home or business?
A: Once the water recedes and customers are able to return home and are ready for natural gas service to be restored, contact our customer service number at 888-890-5554
A Black Hills Energy technician will ensure the natural gas metering equipment is working properly, and an appliance repair professional inspects natural gas appliances and equipment prior to service restoration. To schedule a time for our technicians to perform a free safety inspection, restore service and relight pilot lights, call our customer service center. Black Hills customer service associates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Q: Can floodwaters damage my meter and appliances?
A: Floodwaters carry silt and other contaminants that damage air conditioners and natural gas meters and appliances such as water heaters and furnaces.
Q: If floodwaters enter my home or business, how will I know if my meter or appliances are functioning properly?
A: A Black Hills Energy technician will ensure the natural gas metering equipment is working properly, and an appliance repair professional inspects natural gas appliances and equipment prior to service restoration. If your natural gas appliances and equipment were submerged in floodwaters, they will need to be inspected by a licensed contractor or other qualified service technician before service is restored.
Black Hills Energy in Iowa and Nebraska will inspect appliances that had been flooded for damage at no cost. However, if Black Hills Energy performs appliance repairs related to flooding, customers will be charged on a time/materials basis.
Customers will need to work with their homeowner’s insurance carrier to discuss appliance and equipment repairs that may be required.
Q: What should I do if I smell natural gas?
A: If you smell natural gas, you should leave your home or business immediately and call Black Hills Energy on a cell phone outside the building or use a neighbor’s phone. Do not use the phone in the location where the smell of natural gas was detected, nor turn off any lights when exiting. If there is a natural gas leak, a spark could ignite it.
Black Hills Energy’s 24-hour emergency number is 800-694-8989.
After a flood
Q: What happened to the gas in the pipes while my service was disconnected?
A: The gas pressure in mains and service lines was maintained during the flood. The pressure kept water and other contaminates, such as river silt, out of the gas piping.
Q: My house was flooded. What about the gas line that goes into my house?
A: If your meter was covered with water or got wet from floodwater, Black Hills Energy will inspect the meter and the gas regulator and replace them if needed before gas service is restored. At that time, a technician from Black Hills Energy will check your house piping to make sure that no water entered the pipe.
Q: The floodwater didn’t look dirty. Why does my system need to be checked before the gas is turned on?
A: Floodwater may sometimes appear to be clear; however, floodwater carries silt that can cause corrosion and damage to piping and appliances.
Q: My furnace and water heater were flooded. What happens to them?
A: If your furnace or water heater were submerged in floodwaters, they will need to be inspected by a licensed contractor or other qualified service technician before service is restored.
You may have to replace your furnaces gas valve and all electrical controls, wiring, motors and safety components. However, it may be cheaper to replace the furnace than to purchase and replace the separate components.
You may also need to replace your water heater, whether it’s gas or electric. Water heater gas valves and the internal wiring in electric models can be costly, and often times may exceed the cost of a new water heater. Corrosion can also attack relief valves, which may “freeze” shut or continuously leak. Additionally, the floodwater may have damaged the internal insulation around the water heater tank causing corrosion and failure of the water tank.
Q: I only had a few inches of water in my basement. Do I still need to replace my furnace and water heater?
A: A licensed contractor or other qualified service technician will need to inspect your heating equipment for possible damage as well as check your gas service line for water before it will be placed back into service.
Q: Replacing a furnace and water heater is expensive. Why can’t I just let the equipment dry out and then use it?
A: Your appliances and heating equipment are all protected by safety components. These components as well as the gas valves, motors and wiring are prone to corrosion and failure after they have been subjected to the silt and other contaminates contained in flood water. These contaminates cannot be removed by merely washing them off. The Gas Appliance Manufacturer’s Association sets national specifications for the manufacture of all gas heating and cooking appliances and GAMA states that flooded equipment should be replaced and NOT repaired.
Q: I have a boiler in my house that normally has water in it. Does it need to be inspected?
A: Yes. Normal boiler water is not contaminated. In a flood situation, however, the same problems that may destroy furnaces may also destroy a boiler system. If your boiler is flooded, a licensed contractor or other qualified service technician will need to inspect your boiler for possible damage.
Q: What about my air conditioner?
A: Floodwater contains silt and other contaminates that will damage electrical components and could create an unsafe operating condition. The air conditioning system should be fully inspected by a licensed contractor or other qualified service technician and may have to be replaced.
Q: What about other gas appliances such as my range and oven?
A: If they were in floodwater, they too should be inspected by a licensed contractor or other qualified service technician. If they were not in water, a qualified service technician should check them and also check the gas line serving the appliance to make sure there is no water in the line.
Q: I am a Service Guard customer - what is covered by that contract?
A: Service Guard covers repairs to equipment resulting from normal operating failures. It does not cover repairs from catastrophes such as floods, lightning or other acts of nature. You should contact your home insurance carrier to determine if your appliances and heating equipment are covered. The Federal Emergency Management Administration may be on hand to offer aid in replacing flood damaged appliances. Contact a FEMA field representative for assistance in this matter.
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