The explosion in Harlem last week, which is suspected to have been caused by a gas explosion, has put New Yorkers on alert.
Con Ed sent out the following flyer, via the community board, to remind people of what to do if they smell gas:
Photo via NYC mayor’s office.
I think that this is a terrible approach to giving a phone number to call if you smell gas. How are people supposed to know which number to call? What if you’re walking by a building or don’t know the gas supplier for any reason. And how is anyone supposed to remember these numbers?
If you smell gas, call 911.
ABSOLUTELY!! Dial 911 and ask for the Fire Department. FD will be there within four or five minutes. Con Ed or National Grid will probably have a much longer response time. Also, calling FD is much more likely to make regulators aware of the problem; the utilities are thereby held more accountable.
A Fire Department response will require a building inspection shortly afterwards.
I smell gas all the time outside of Harry’s Burritos on 73rd and Columbus