How to Gas Shutoff Valve Location

Gas leaks following earthquakes are a major cause of post-quake fires—when pipes break and gas accumulates, any spark can cause an explosion. This critical safety task involves locating your gas meter and shutoff valve, understanding how to operate it (a quarter turn with a wrench makes the valve perpendicular to the pipe, stopping gas flow), and ensuring you have a wrench stored at the meter. Every adult in your household should know where the valve is and how to shut it off within 30 seconds—in an emergency, those seconds matter.