How to Report a Gas Leak in New York City

After the recent gas explosion in Harlem, I felt compelled to make a little public service video. I may not be super-cool and famous like James Dean, but I did have the misfortunate of experiencing a gas leak in my New York apartment. Unfortunately, my landlord and I were able to resolve the leak without incident because we contacted Consolidated Edison immediately.

For months, the residents of the buildings in Harlem made the mistake of calling 311, a general information inquiry line, as opposed to calling Consolidated Edison directly. Sadly, when somebody finally did call Con Ed, it was too late--a mere 18 minutes before the deadly explosion leveled two buildings and left nearly a dozen dead. If that phone call had come the night before instead of the morning off, this disaster could have been avoided.

Signs of a gas leak:

• Rotten egg smell
• Dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area
• Dirt and/or dust blowing from a hole in the ground
• Bubbling in wet or flooded areas.
• Blowing or hissing sound

If you witness any of these signs in your home or apartment, please do not hesitate to call Consolidated Edison at 1-800-75-CON-ED (266-33). They will send a crew immediately to shut your gas off. Unfortunately, they will leave you or your landlord with the responsibility to call a certified plumber and fix the leak. So it is good to make friends with a certified plumber. Also, during this time, your friends will certainly include delivery boys, the raw food diet, and the microwave.

A minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.

The life you save could be your own.