#United States #Houston #CenterPoint Energy #Hurricane Season #Emergency Exercise

CenterPoint Energy Enhances Hurricane Preparedness

In a proactive approach to safeguarding the Greater Houston area, CenterPoint Energy carried out a comprehensive emergency response exercise today, aimed at bolstering its preparedness for the upcoming hurricane season in 2026. This detailed drill was held at the CenterPoint Emergency Operations Center and involved meticulous simulations of a Category 3 hurricane hitting the region, demonstrating the company’s commitment to ensuring customer safety and service reliability.

A Major Drill Involving Local Partners

The event witnessed participation from over 400 members of various CenterPoint teams along with approximately 100 observers from local and state emergency management agencies, first responders, and external experts. The exercise was designed to rigorously test the company's emergency response plan through real-time decision-making scenarios, all of which aligned with the ongoing Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative aimed at creating a more robust electrical grid.

"For CenterPoint, preparing for natural disasters before they occur and simulating responses is crucial for improving our effectiveness. Today's exercise is not only about practice but also about identifying areas for enhancement in our emergency strategies," said Jesus Soto Jr., the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at CenterPoint Energy. He emphasized that continuous upgrades and investments have been made to meet the high expectations of service restoration during storm events.

Learning and Adapting: The Focus of the 2026 Exercise

The primary aim of the exercise involved executing a series of critical emergency response activities. Participants reviewed forecasts and analyzed damage prediction models to efficiently allocate resources in worst-case scenarios. The event also included clear communication protocols aimed at ensuring timely updates for both local officials and customers regarding restoration efforts.

This hands-on simulation, which integrated feedback from third-party evaluators, serves as a foundational element for strengthening CenterPoint's emergency preparedness framework. Adjustments based on this feedback will further hone their strategies in the face of storms or other emergencies.

Ongoing Preparedness Initiatives

Leading up to this full-scale exercise, CenterPoint Energy has undertaken several initiatives throughout 2026 to maximize readiness for hurricane threats:
1. New Emergency Operations Center: This state-of-the-art facility supports continuous situational awareness and enhances coordination with local emergency partners.
2. Employee Training: Over 25,000 hours of FEMA training have been completed by more than 800 employees to ensure a well-prepared workforce.
3. Increased Frontline Support: The number of available frontline workers for emergencies has surged, enabling them to mobilize up to 20 times the usual contingent during critical times.
4. Enhanced Damage Assessment Processes: Improved processes for quicker damage identification have been established.
5. Weather Monitoring Improvements: Implementation of 150 new advanced weather stations has refined their ability to monitor real-time conditions.

Strengthening Infrastructure: Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI)

Since the rollout of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative in 2024, CenterPoint has made significant infrastructure improvements aimed at reinforcing the electrical grid. This includes:

• - The installation of over 65,000 stronger and more storm-resilient utility poles.
• - Clearing 10,000+ miles of vegetation that could pose risks to power lines.
• - Undergrounding more than 500 miles of power lines for additional safety.
• - Installing over 600 automation devices to enhance grid self-healing capabilities.

As 2026 progresses, CenterPoint commits to further investments designed to refine both system resiliency and emergency protocols. The expected outcome is to reduce outage minutes significantly, benefiting millions of customers in the Greater Houston area.

To stay updated on CenterPoint Energy's preparedness strategies and ongoing improvements, visit their dedicated site at CenterPointEnergy.com/TakingAction. Together, these initiatives portray a dedication to not just maintaining electricity but ensuring the safety and reliability of services that the community depends upon during critical times.

About CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., is an investor-owned utility company based in Texas, serving more than 7 million customers across states including Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. CenterPoint has maintained operations for over 150 years and currently holds assets worth approximately $47.8 billion. To learn more about their efforts and initiatives, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.