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What Should You Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak?
https://preview-archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/browse/?cuecard=101372
General Information
Source:
Creator:
NBC Today Show
Matt Lauer/Jeff Rossen
Resource Type:
Copyright:
Event Date:
Air/Publish Date:
03/09/2015
03/09/2015
Copyright Date:
Clip Length
Video News Report
NBCUniversal Media,
LLC.
2015
00:04:09
Description
More than 177 million Americans rely on natural gas in their homes which can cause explosions if the gas
leaks. Captain James Altman of the Santa Monica Fire Department offers safety tips on what to do if you
suspect a gas leak.
Keywords
Gas Leak, Natural Gas, Gas, Leak, Explosions, Fire, Flames, Smell, Odor, Sound, Hiss, Home, House,
James Altman, Santa Monica Fire Department, Santa Monica, California, Burners, Stove, Lights, Flame,
Open Flame, Spark, Flashlight, Ventilate, Ventilation, Doors, Windows, Gas Meter, Valve, Evacuate,
Evacuation, Danger, Dangerous, Safety
Citation
MLA
"What Should You Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak?" Jeff Rossen, correspondent. NBC Today Show.
NBCUniversal Media. 9 Mar. 2015. NBC Learn. Web. 7 April 2015
© 2008-2015 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Page 1 of 4
APA
Rossen, J. (Reporter), & Lauer, M. (Anchor). 2015, March 9. What Should You Do If You Suspect a Gas
Leak? [Television series episode]. NBC Today Show. Retrieved from https://previewarchives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/browse/?cuecard=101372
CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE
"What Should You Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak?" NBC Today Show, New York, NY: NBC Universal,
03/09/2015. Accessed Tue Apr 7 2015 from NBC Learn: https://previewarchives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/browse/?cuecard=101372
Transcript
What Should You Do If You Suspect a Gas Leak?
MATT LAUER, Anchor:
We start right now with a new Rossen Reports. This morning, house explosions caused by natural gas
leaks that have been caught on tape. One of the most recent examples of frightening case in New Jersey.
So the question is, what are you supposed to do if you smell gas? TODAY national investigative
correspondent ROSSEN is here with more on that. Hi, Jeff.
JEFF ROSSEN, reporting:
Hey guys, good morning. That video out of New Jersey is dramatic. You can see this home being blown
to bits by a natural gas leak. And believe it or not, explosions like this are more common than you think.
Right now, one hundred and seventy-seven million Americans use natural gas inside their homes. So what
if you catch a whiff of gas, that rotten egg smell we've all smelt? Would you know what to do next? Keep
watching. We're about to show you.
WOMAN #1 (911 recording): 911, where is your emergency?
ROSSEN: Terrifying moments caught on camera.
CALLER #1: Please hurry. Oh, my God. It blew up a house.
ROSSEN: Families running from their home as flame shoot in the air.
CALLER #2: There's a gas company. And, oh my gosh. The house-- there's lots of flame.
ROSSEN: Natural gas blowing houses to bits.
WOMAN #2: The ambulances and people running around and then there was a big flame coming from
the house.
ROSSEN: Just two weeks ago, police dash cam rolling as this home in New Jersey explodes after a gas
leak, injuring fifteen. Officials released the tapes to show you how dangerous it can be.
MAN: It's terrifying. You know, you see it all the time on the news and stuff but now it's down the street
from your house.
ROSSEN: And it's happening from Philadelphia where this explosion killed a teenager, to Indianapolis
where this entire street was leveled. So what do you do if you hear that hiss or smell gas inside your
© 2008-2015 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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home?
JAMES ALTMAN: There's a few things that you can do.
ROSSEN: ALTMAN is captain of the Santa Monica Fire Department.
Straightaway, what's first?
ALTMAN: Well, if it's safe, you want to walk over to the stove and make sure that all your burners are
turned off.
ROSSEN: So that's a common mistake? I assume we leave this on.
ALTMAN: Absolutely. Somebody bumps it, they leave it on and now you have a free-flowing gas.
ROSSEN: If the stove is off and I still smell gas, then what?
ALTMAN: You want to make sure that you don't use any lights or open flame.
ROSSEN: So even if it's dark out, don't turn the lights on, which is instinct?
ALTMAN: Don't use the lights because that could lead into a spark which causes an explosion. You want
to make sure you have a flashlight handy.
ROSSEN: And that won't cause an explosion?
ALTMAN: And this won't. And the next step is you want to make sure you ventilate the house by opening
up all the doors and windows.
ROSSEN: So do that immediately to get the gases out?
ALTMAN: Yes. You want to make sure you ventilate the house.
ROSSEN: And when you open this door and you leave, keep it open?
ALTMAN: Yes. Another great tip is to know where your gas meter is on your home.
ROSSEN: So when there's not an emergency like right now, come outside your house and check to see
where this is.
ALTMAN: Exactly. Know where it's at and know how to operate it. This valve, while it's up and down
on.
ROSSEN: Yeah.
ALTMAN: Perpendicular means that the gas is off.
ROSSEN: Can I shut it off if I smell gas?
ALTMAN: Absolutely. You have a wrench and you're going to put the wrench on here. You're going to
quarter turn it until it's off. And finally, you want to make sure you evacuate your home.
ROSSEN: How far away do you need to be to make sure that you're safe?
ALTMAN: You want to get to safe distance. You want to make sure across the street, somewhere where
you feel is safe. And once you get there, you want to make sure you dial 911 from there.
ROSSEN: Simple tips to keep your family safe and your home standing.
Here's one more tip for you. If you suddenly notice your grass or the weeds or scrubs have changed color
very suddenly, they are looking more brown or rusty, that could also be a sign of a leak, the gas pouring
out of the pipes outside your house. If you see any of these things, you want to call the gas company and
call 911 immediately.
LAUER: The video is amazing.
ROSSEN: Yeah.
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LAUER: It's a good tip. By the way, you're launching a new Facebook page.
ROSSEN: Yeah, exciting day for us here at Rossen Reports. This is a new way to interact with our
viewers. We have it up right now. And there is my team, Josh, Charlie and Jovanna who are on it every
day. We're going to be getting story tips from you here. If you like something we did, if you don't like
something we did, let us know about it. If you feel like you've been ripped off, tell us about it. Just go to
facebook.com. Put it back up there so we can see the-- there it is.
AL ROKER: Oh, it's underneath you.
ROSSEN: Facebook. Here it is. Facebook.com/rossenreports. You'll see a little blue verified checkmark
next to me. We're reading this every single day, so bring it on.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Let us know how you feel about Jeff's new haircut.
ROSSEN: Yes.
ROKER: Yes. I was going to say. That's very nice.
ROSSEN: Go ahead, make your joke.
LAUER: No, no, no. No jokes.
ROSSEN: Yeah, okay.
ROKER: Bieber.
MATT LAUER: Thank you, Jeff. Appreciate it.
© 2008-2015 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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