When a magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck off the southern Maine coast on the morning of Jan. 27, Unitil’s gas crews quickly mobilized to survey for any possible damage to its natural gas system.
The quake was unusually strong by New England standards, and while the company’s gas facilities and infrastructure were not impacted, the natural event was a reminder about the importance of having proactive measures in place to ensure safety.
“Earthquakes are not uncommon in our region, but they’re often so small that we rarely feel them or even think about them,” Unitil External Affairs Manager Alec O’Meara said. “History has shown that they can occur, however. That’s why it’s critical that we are prepared to respond if we do experience such an unusual event.”
Immediately following last month’s quake, Unitil – a provider of electricity and natural gas to customers in New England – began surveying its gas pipeline, facilities and other critical infrastructure to check for any damage. This proactive work performed by highly trained technicians included extensive leak surveys and inspections of pressure regulating stations. No issues were discovered during this multi-day survey work, which began nearest to the quake’s epicenter and extended southward to the New Hampshire/Massachusetts state line and as far north as Kennebunkport, Maine.
The company is now using the event as a benchmark as it works to establish protocols for future earthquake response protocols.
While quakes in the Northeast don’t occur as often as those in western parts of the country, they tend to be felt over a wider area. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the largest earthquakes to impact the New England region occurred in 1638 when a magnitude 6.5 struck in Vermont or New Hampshire, and a magnitude 5.8 hit off the coast of Cape Ann, Mass., in 1755. Maine’s strongest quake on record, which had a magnitude of approximately 5.9 – occurred in 1904 and was centered between Bar Harbor and Passamaquoddy Bay. A magnitude 5.6 quake with an epicenter in central New Hampshire in 1940 was the most recent quake to cause moderate damage.
“Fortunately this recent earthquake had no impact on our system, but an event like this always provides an opportunity for utility companies to strengthen their emergency preparedness efforts. This is also a good time to remind customers about natural gas safety awareness,” O’Meara said.
For more information on natural gas safety preparedness, visit unitil.com/safety-preparedness/gas-safety
