Fort Bend County and CenterPoint Energy Strengthen Disaster Resiliency with Generator Donations
Fort Bend County is taking significant strides in disaster preparedness with the donation of two backup generators from CenterPoint Energy, bolstering the county’s ability to provide emergency support during severe weather events. The initiative was announced during a press conference at Landmark Community Center, where local leaders emphasized the importance of proactive infrastructure investment to ensure the safety and well-being of residents.
The donation, part of CenterPoint Energy’s Community Generator Donation Program, aims to enhance the county’s emergency response capabilities by installing permanent generators at two key locations: Landmark Community Center in Missouri City and the Pecan Grove Sports Complex in Richmond. These generators, funded through a $5 million grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation at no cost to customers, will ensure that these critical facilities remain operational during power outages.
Strengthening Emergency Preparedness in Fort Bend County
Recent weather disasters, including Hurricane Beryl and the Derecho Storm, illuminated the pressing need for enhanced disaster resilience. Hurricane Beryl left approximately 120,000 Fort Bend County residents without power, while the Derecho Storm caused widespread outages affecting more than 150,000 people in the region. These severe storms highlighted vulnerabilities in the electrical grid, reinforcing the need for investments in infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events.
Judge KP George stressed the county’s commitment to proactive disaster preparedness. “We are committed to ensuring that our residents have access to safe, fully operational shelters during emergencies,” George said. “These efforts will strengthen our emergency response infrastructure and improve our ability to support residents during disasters.”
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Although Fort Bend County currently has deployable generators, the logistics of transporting and setting them up during an emergency can create delays. The installation of permanent generators at these facilities eliminates these delays, allowing residents to immediately access safe spaces for cooling, heating, and shelter during crises.
CenterPoint Energy’s Commitment to Community Resilience
The generator donation is part of CenterPoint Energy’s broader efforts to improve grid resilience across Greater Houston. In addition to the generator program, the company is replacing or installing 25,000 new utility poles, conducting maintenance on 4,000 miles of high-risk vegetation, and adding more than 4,400 automated devices to reduce both the number and duration of outages during major storms.
“We are working with communities across Greater Houston to determine the best locations for these backup generators,” said June Deadrick, Vice President of Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy. “These resources will help critical community partners keep the lights on during major weather events or other emergencies.”
CenterPoint Energy’s Community Generator Donation Program will provide 21 backup generators across 12 counties in Greater Houston, ensuring that essential services remain available to residents when they need them most.
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Enhancing Resilience Before the 2025 Hurricane Season
With the goal of having all donated generators installed and operational by June 1, 2025, ahead of hurricane season, Fort Bend County’s Office of Emergency Management is actively coordinating preparedness exercises. “We've already got plans in place to exercise some of these areas right now for our sheltering operations in May,” said Greg Babst, Director of the Office of Emergency Management.
These backup power sources will enable shelters to operate continuously during power outages, serving as hubs for medical care, food and water distribution, charging stations, and other critical services.
Looking Ahead
This initiative exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships in strengthening disaster preparedness. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, investments in resilient infrastructure like backup generators will play an essential role in ensuring community safety.
For more information on Fort Bend County’s disaster preparedness initiatives, visit FortBendCountyTX.Gov or contact the Office of Emergency Management at 281-342-6185.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.