VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Meteorologists are predicting that Hurricane Irene – the first hurricane of 2011 in the Atlantic – could impact the Virginia Natural Gas service territory this weekend, bringing with it substantial rain, damaging winds and the potential for flooding.

"The safety of our customers, employees and residents is our number one priority. We are monitoring the storm track and our crews are implementing the first phase of our company's emergency response plan as we prepare for the hurricane," said Robert Duvall, vice president, Virginia Natural Gas. "We urge Virginia residents to take steps now to ensure their personal safety and the safety of their family before the storm hits."

Below are recommended guidelines associated with natural gas before and after severe weather to ensure safety:

• If customers smell gas, immediately leave the affected area and call the 24-hour emergency response line, at 1-877-572-3342 from a safe location. Residents should never try to identify the source of a leak themselves. Do not use a cellular phone or anything that might cause a spark, such as a generator.
• Virginia Natural Gas customers are advised to leave their natural gas service on during a hurricane. Most gas appliances have safety valves that shut off the flow of gas automatically if the pilot light goes out.
• If flooding occurs at a residence or business and the gas appliances are under water, do not try to operate the appliances. Contact Virginia Natural Gas or a qualified service professional to conduct a safety inspection.
• Customers are encouraged to know where their natural gas meter is located. Ensure the gas meter is visible, and the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used after the storm to clean-up a location may damage the meter if it is hidden.
• Before removing downed trees, customers are asked to dial the Call-Before-You-Dig hotline at 8-1-1 to have the location of underground utility lines marked. The service lines could become tangled in the roots of downed trees.
• If a natural gas meter is damaged or gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call Virginia Natural Gas 24-hour emergency response number 1-877-572-3342.
• Virginia Natural Gas customers experiencing a natural gas outage or service interruption should contact the company's 24-hour emergency response number 1-877-572-3342. Customers will be restored as quickly as possible once the area is deemed safe.

For more information on how to stay safe during severe weather, visit www.virginianaturalgas.com/BePrepared.

About Virginia Natural Gas

Virginia Natural Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE: AGL), provides retail natural gas sales and distribution services to 275,000 customers in southeast Virginia.  For more information, visit www.virginianaturalgas.com.

About AGL Resources

AGL Resources (NYSE: AGL), an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves approximately 2.3 million customers in six states. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout North America. As an 85-percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. The company also owns and operates two high-deliverability natural gas storage facilities: Jefferson Island Storage & Hub near the Henry Hub in Louisiana and Golden Triangle Storage in Texas. For more information, visit www.aglresources.com.

SOURCE Virginia Natural Gas