Atmos Energy Urges Natural Gas Safety as Hurricane Season Begins

While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, the agency still forecasts as many as 14 named storms in the coming months. NOAA's recent announcement serves as a timely reminder for Atmos Energy customers to be aware of natural gas safety measures that will keep homes, businesses and families prepared throughout the summer and early fall. Hurricane season begins this week and continues through Nov. 30, and Atmos Energy will constantly monitor the strength and trajectories of tropical storms and hurricanes with the potential to make landfall in the communities we serve.

"Preparing for a weather event is a year-round exercise for Atmos Energy. Employees participate in regular tabletop exercises to clarify roles and responsibilities, and after any severe weather event, we use lessons learned to continuously improve our readiness," said Bobby Morgan, Atmos Energy vice president of public affairs. "Recent years have shown that hurricanes of any size can pose a threat to life and property, so we want everyone to remember that the best time to plan is now – long before a storm arrives."

As a reminder, after any severe weather event, please do not use natural gas equipment if it is flooded or damaged without first contacting a qualified service professional to have it inspected.

Atmos Energy's highly trained service technicians are emergency responders who maintain the safe operation of our natural gas system. If any customer experiences an interruption in service, our skilled technicians will restore service after local conditions are deemed safe. Whether it is a hurricane, flooding, or other severe weather event, please observe these important safety tips:

If flooding occurs and gas appliances are underwater – including standby generators – do not try to operate the appliances. Instead, contact Atmos Energy or a qualified service professional to conduct a safety inspection.

Standby generators require available natural gas supply and may be inoperable depending on storm damage in your area.

Natural gas appliances and generators should be installed and maintained by a qualified professional. For your safety, operate your appliances according to manufacturer instructions.

During a natural disaster or severe weather event, DO NOT turn off natural gas at the meter even if evacuations are issued.

If you think you smell gas, immediately leave the affected area, and from a safe distance call 911 or Atmos Energy's 24-hour emergency response line at 866.322.8667.

NEVER try to find the source of a gas leak.

DO NOT use a mobile phone or anything that might cause a spark, such as a generator.

If a natural gas meter is damaged or a gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area, and call the Atmos Energy 24-hour emergency response line at 866.322.8667.

Know where your natural gas meter is located. Make sure it's visible and free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used to clean up after a storm may damage the meter if it is hidden.

Natural gas distribution pipelines are mostly underground but can be damaged by uprooted trees and shifted foundations. After a storm, call 811 to have the location of underground utility lines marked, as gas service lines could become tangled.

If roofing repairs are needed, have a licensed professional certify all roofing repair work and inspect all natural gas vents and piping for proper ventilation. This is imperative to prevent safety risks and keep your appliances operating as designed.

Atmos Energy customers experiencing a natural gas outage or service interruption should contact the company's customer service number at 888.286.6700.

Service will be restored as quickly as possible once the area is deemed safe, and more information about this process is available on our Service Restoration page.

For more severe weather safety information, please visit atmosenergy.com/weathersafety.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation, a natural gas-only distributor, is an S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas. We safely deliver reliable, affordable, efficient and abundant natural gas to more than 3 million distribution customers in over 1,400 communities across eight states located primarily in the South.

As part of our vision to be the safest provider of natural gas services, we are modernizing our business and infrastructure while continuing to invest in safety, innovation, environmental sustainability and our communities. Atmos Energy manages proprietary pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas.