Hurricane Ida and Natural Gas Safety | Atmos Energy
Important Natural Gas and Hurricane Safety Information

Hurricane Ida and Natural Gas Safety

Atmos Energy is working closely with the cities, first responders, and customers affected by Hurricane Ida. Please contact us if you have a natural gas emergency or questions about your natural gas service:

  • 24/7 Emergency Line: 866.322.8667
    • Call our 24/7 emergency line if you have a damaged natural gas meter, are smelling natural gas, cannot access your natural gas meter, suspect a natural gas leak, etc. 
  • General Customer Service: 888.286.6700
    • Monday - Friday, 7am - 6pm CT
  • Online Form
    • If you are unable to use a mobile device to make calls, please use the online form below and a member of our customer service department will respond via email.

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Safety Information

If you suspect a natural gas leak inside or outside your home or business, leave the area immediately and call 911 and Atmos Energy’s 24-hour emergency line at 866-322-8667.

Use all of your senses to detect a natural gas leak:  

  • SMELL the distinctive “rotten egg” or skunk-like odor that makes natural gas detectable.   
  • LOOK  for blowing dust, bubbling water, or dead vegetation near a gas line.
  • LISTEN for a hissing or whistling sound near a gas appliance or a roaring sound near a pipeline.   

The safety of the public, our employees, and our system is our highest priority, and we continue to assess the critical damage to several miles of underground natural gas pipelines in the Lafitte and Barataria communities impacted by Hurricane Ida. 

To maintain the safety and reliability of our services, Atmos Energy will have to replace most of its underground natural gas pipelines and customer meters. Please be advised that factors such as, weather, groundwater levels, the presence of debris, and the condition of customer piping can delay this process. 

In the Town of Jean Lafitte, we have already started the replacement process and may have a limited number of customers restored in the next few weeks. In lower Lafitte and Barataria, when conditions are deemed safe, we will evaluate the status of our underground natural gas pipelines and begin an assessment. 

We appreciate your patience, as due to the severe impact on our natural gas system by Hurricane Ida, the restoration efforts are ongoing. 

We encourage Atmos Energy customers with questions about their natural gas service to reach out to us via:  

  • 866.322.8667: to report a suspected natural gas leak or damaged meter: 24/7 emergency line  
  • 888.286.6700: for general customer service: Monday - Friday, 7 – 6  
  • atmosenergy.com/ida: to contact if you are unable to use a mobile device to make a call 

The safety of the public, our employees, and our system is our highest priority, and Atmos Energy is working closely with local first responders to support our natural gas customers throughout their recovery from Hurricane Ida.   

After the catastrophic impact on the southeast Louisiana community by Hurricane Ida, and once local conditions were deemed safe, Atmos Energy began to safely assess the status of its natural gas distribution system in Lafitte and Barataria, Louisiana.   

Still in the early stages of recovery, it is clear that Hurricane Ida caused critical damage to several miles of underground natural gas pipelines that have resulted in natural gas service being suspended to approximately 659 Atmos Energy customers.  With the large amounts of debris, shifted land, and flooding in the area, Atmos Energy took this necessary step to ensure everyone’s continued safety.  

Due to the severe impact on our system, restoration efforts are ongoing, and we encourage Atmos Energy customers with questions about their natural gas service to reach out to us via: 

  • 866.322.8667: to report a suspected natural gas leak or damaged meter: 24/7 emergency line 
  • 888.286.6700: for general customer service: Monday - Friday, 7 - 6  
  • atmosenergy.com/ida: to contact if you are unable to use a mobile device to make a call 

Atmos Energy is here to help, and our teams continue to work around the clock focused on maintaining the safety of our community.  

If your natural gas appliances are under water, do not try to operate them. Please contact Atmos Energy or a qualified service professional to conduct a safety inspection.   

  • DO NOT turn off natural gas at the meter.   
  • 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.  
  • If possible, and it is safe to do so, clean off debris by hand from your natural gas meter. If any heavy machinery is required to remove the debris, ensure the natural gas meter is not struck. 

It is important to take precautions when operating a generator.  Follow manufacturer instructions when setting up a generator.  Improper use can produce carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless toxic gas.

If you are experiencing a natural gas outage or service interruption should contact us at 888.286.6700.  We will restore natural gas service as safely and quickly as possible once the area is deemed safe.  

For more information on service restoration, please click here.