Natural Gas is Fueling American Emergency and Disaster Response
Every spring, severe weather events have the potential to cause destruction in communities across the country. Floods, tornadoes and tropical storms can all disrupt the delivery of essential energy services – but some types of energy are far more resilient than others against natural disasters.
Homeowners who rely on natural gas can trust that their energy supply will remain uninterrupted, no matter the weather. Natural gas infrastructure is built to withstand disruptions, providing reliable energy during power outages and serving as a backup for both homes and vital facilities, like hospitals.
Natural gas continues to play a pivotal role in helping ensure Americans have reliable access to energy, particularly as the spring ushers in tornado and hurricane season. Natural gas systems are often more resilient than electricity during disasters, with only one customer in 650 experiencing an outage each year while electric distribution systems have an average of one outage per year per customer. Natural gas pipeline infrastructure is predominantly underground and protected from many major disruptive events. It also mainly runs on the very natural gas it transports. Combined, this helps ensure that homes and facilities with natural gas-powered generators and appliances can remain operational when they are needed most.
The reliability of natural gas is particularly important when it comes to our nation’s critical infrastructure. Hospitals, for instance, need a reliable source of energy to keep life-saving machines running and maintain refrigeration for essential, temperature-sensitive medications. This means that all hospitals have a backup energy source – the most reliable of which relies on natural gas. Natural gas affordably fuels combined heat and power (CHP) systems, as well as traditional space and water heaters. CHP supplies reliable energy to hospitals and other health care facilities, ensuring they can continue to provide effective, lifesaving care for their patients. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), 80% of American hospitals use natural gas for water heating, and 74% use it for space heating. During electricity outages, hospitals with CHP generators can continue to function using natural gas, allowing doctors to continue to administer essential care to patients in need during event the worst natural disasters.
Because America’s natural gas pipeline network is predominantly underground and protected from most types of disruption, natural gas utilities provide reliable service to consumers during emergencies. Nevertheless, natural gas utility workers are often critical front-line responders during severe weather to help ensure the safety of our homes, businesses and communities. During extreme weather events, natural gas utility workers leverage existing natural gas infrastructure to support local safety efforts, ensuring critical services remain accessible for American families – even during extended outages.
Severe weather, from hurricanes to tornadoes, can impact our families and communities when we least expect it. This spring, remember that preparedness is key to staying safe and minimizing the impact of any potential emergencies – and that the natural gas industry is always prepared to provide you with the safe, reliable energy you need.