Harris County Precincts 3 and 4 Secure Backup Generators to Strengthen Community Resilience Ahead of Hurricane Season
As extreme weather events become increasingly frequent and severe, Harris County officials are taking proactive steps to ensure residents have access to essential services during power outages. Commissioners from Precincts 3 and 4 have secured backup generators for key community centers, reinforcing the county’s ability to provide emergency support when it matters most.
Precinct 4 Invests in Backup Power Solutions
Earlier this month, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones oversaw the acquisition of two portable diesel generators and installing generator connectors at seven Precinct 4 community centers. This move ensures that these facilities can quickly transform into warming and cooling centers during extreme weather. On February 6, 2025, the Harris County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of two diesel generators, seven generator connectors, and an additional $920,000 in commercial paper funding for Precinct 4’s Emergency Generator Installations project, bringing total funding to $3.4 million.
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CenterPoint Energy’s Generator Donation to Precinct 3
In a significant contribution to local resiliency efforts, Harris County Precinct 3 announced on February 11, 2025, the donation of a backup generator to the Trini Mendenhall Community Center in the Spring Branch area. This donation, part of CenterPoint’s Community Generator Donation Program, will help the facility remain operational during power outages, ensuring residents have access to critical resources during extreme weather events.
A Larger Commitment to Community Resiliency
CenterPoint Energy’s Community Generator Donation Program is a key component of its Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI). Through this initiative, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation has committed $5 million to fund 21 backup generators across 12 counties in the Greater Houston region. These generators will be installed at critical community locations identified in collaboration with local emergency management officials. CenterPoint Energy aims to have all units fully operational by June 1, 2025, ahead of the next hurricane season.
“These 21 generators are each capable of powering an entire large building and will help make the communities we are proud to serve even more resilient during major storms and other emergency events,” said Jason Wells, President and CEO of CenterPoint Energy.
Systemwide Resiliency Plan: Strengthening the Grid for Future Storms
Beyond the donation program, CenterPoint Energy is making historic investments to fortify Houston’s electrical grid against extreme weather. On January 31, 2025, the company announced its multi-year Systemwide Resiliency Plan (SRP), expected to significantly reduce storm-related outages by 1.3 billion minutes by 2029. Key initiatives include:
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Automation Devices: 100% of high-customer-density power lines will include self-healing automation to minimize outage impacts.
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Flood Protection: 99% of substations will be raised above the 500-year flood plain to prevent storm-related disruptions.
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Underground Power Lines: Over 50% of CenterPoint’s electric system will be moved underground for increased reliability.
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Stronger Utility Poles: 130,000 high-wind-resistant poles will be installed or reinforced.
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Vegetation Management: Transmission and distribution lines will undergo enhanced tree-trimming cycles to reduce power line damage.
This $5.75 billion investment is the largest resiliency effort in CenterPoint’s history, designed to create a self-healing, storm-resistant grid for the Greater Houston area. The improvements will help prevent outages for over 500,000 customers in a hurricane scenario and save an estimated $50 million per year in storm-related costs.
What This Means for Houston’s Future Weather Preparedness
The addition of backup generators in Harris County and the implementation of grid resiliency measures are part of broader efforts to strengthen the region’s preparedness for extreme weather events. These initiatives aim to keep critical community centers operational during outages, providing emergency services and essential resources to residents.
As the 2025 hurricane season approaches, local officials and private sector partners continue to focus on improving power infrastructure and emergency response strategies, highlighting a coordinated effort to mitigate the effects of severe weather and enhance community resilience.
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.
