Houston – With Tropical Storm Bertha in the Gulf serving as a reminder that hurricane season is well underway, now is a good time for Houstonians to make sure they’re prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store.
CenterPoint Energy appeared on Houston Life to discuss the work being done to strengthen the electric system across Greater Houston and the resources available to help customers stay informed before, during, and after severe weather.
It’s been nearly two years since the company launched its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative following Hurricane Beryl. Since then, crews have completed thousands of projects designed to improve both everyday reliability and the system’s ability to withstand major storms. Those efforts include clearing more than 12,000 miles of hazardous vegetation, installing more than 72,000 storm-resilient utility poles, and undergrounding nearly 700 miles of power lines.
While much of that work happens behind the scenes, CenterPoint says it’s all part of a year-round effort to prepare for hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and other weather events that can impact Southeast Texas. The company also highlighted the work of its frontline crews, who are out in the field every day helping maintain and restore the electric system.
The conversation also focuses on the digital tools customers can use to stay informed when storms threaten. CenterPoint encourages customers to sign up for Power Alert Service, which provides outage and restoration updates by text message, email, or phone call. Customers can even add multiple contacts so family members receive updates for the same address.
Viewers also learned about the company’s Progress Tracker, which allows customers to see grid improvement projects happening in their neighborhoods, along with updates to the outage tracker that make it easier to report hazards such as downed power lines after a storm.
The company says it’s also invested in thousands of hours of emergency response training for employees to help ensure crews are ready when storms strike.
Good to Know
- Stay at least 15 feet away from downed power lines.
- Report hazards when it’s safe to do so.
- Sign up for outage alerts before severe weather arrives.
To learn more about grid improvements, track projects in your neighborhood, or sign up for outage alerts, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ActionCenter or give them a call at 713-207-2222.