CenterPoint Energy urges customers to prepare and stay safe as hurricane season begins

Houston – June 1, 2023 – Hurricane season officially begins today, and CenterPoint Energy is encouraging customers to prepare for potential service outages and consider what precautions should be taken ahead of potentially severe weather.

As always, CenterPoint Energy is committed to the safety and well-being of the communities it serves and is prepared with an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in which employees from across the company’s service territories participate through planned assignments in their regions. With extensive experience in managing the impact of severe weather events, CenterPoint Energy reminds everyone to prepare now for potential hurricanes and related hazards.

Customers should review these essential tips to help encourage safety and minimize disruptions during the hurricane season:

• Create a hurricane preparedness kit: Build an emergency kit that includes essential items such as non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit and any necessary medications. Don’t forget to have a battery-powered radio and a portable charger for your mobile devices.
• Develop an emergency plan: Establish a family emergency plan and discuss it with all household members. Designate a safe meeting place, communicate evacuation routes and make sure everyone understands the plan.
• Stay informed: Stay updated on weather conditions and any warnings or advisories issued by local authorities. Pay close attention to announcements from CenterPoint Energy through the company’s Storm Center, social media channels and local news outlets for important information regarding natural gas outages and restoration efforts.
• Do not turn off your natural gas service at the meter: CenterPoint Energy strongly advises customers not to turn off your natural gas at the meter. The natural gas meter should be left on to maintain proper pressure in the natural gas piping within the house and to prevent water from entering the lines in the event of flooding.
• If you wish to discontinue natural gas service, natural gas can be turned off at each appliance. Later, to restore natural gas service to an appliance, you may follow the written instructions located on the appliance for re-lighting. If you are unable to locate instructions or you don’t feel comfortable re-lighting, call a qualified plumber/technician.
• If advised to evacuate, follow the instructions of local authorities promptly.
• Report natural gas leaks: To report a natural gas leak, call 888-876-5786. Do not attempt to handle natural gas-related issues yourself; leave it to a qualified technician.
• View these hurricane safety tips.

CenterPoint Energy has implemented rigorous protocols and trained dedicated teams to respond safely and efficiently in the face of severe weather events. In the case of disruption to service, crews are ready to restore natural gas service as safely and quickly as possible.

For additional information and resources on hurricane preparedness, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/StormCenter and follow @CNPAlerts for updates during inclement weather events.