DALLAS – Atmos Energy is asking emergency crews, customers and volunteers involved in tornado cleanup efforts throughout North Texas to please beware of potential natural gas leaks caused by the storms’ destructive path.

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the families in the communities impacted by this weekend’s devastating storms. We are sending additional work crews to assess all the damage throughout North Texas, including the hardest hit areas in Garland, Sunnyvale and Rowlett,” said John Paris, president of the Atmos Energy Mid-Tex division.

Atmos Energy says please do not turn off your natural gas during severe weather, even if you are evacuated. We will send trained technicians to safely shut off gas where necessary.

“Also, please remember that there are hidden dangers in tornado cleanup such as buried gas lines. That’s why we urge residents to call our emergency line at 1-866-322-8667 or call 811 before they try and move piles of debris,” said Paris.

If you think that you smell natural gas, evacuate the area and do not operate anything that might cause a spark. Please call the Atmos Energy Emergency Hotline at 1-866-322-8667 and we will send someone to investigate.

About Atmos Energy

Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is one of the country's largest natural-gas only distributors, serving more than 3 million natural gas distribution customers in about 1,400 communities in eight states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas and also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. Atmos Energy can also be accessed through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.