After a severe storm or hurricane, CenterPoint Energy's emergency operations teams make an aerial survey, and nearly 600 inspectors conduct damage assessments on the ground so the right resources, crews and materials are assigned to each effort. We also set up special staging sites to begin work in the areas hit the hardest.

While the inspection teams assess damage, crews are at work restoring power to key facilities vital to safety, health and welfare, such as hospitals, water treatment plants and public service facilities.

After key facilities, we restore all other customers using a priority restoration process focusing on making repairs to electrical facilities that will return power to the largest number of customers first, then the next largest number, and so on, until power is returned to everyone.

In addition to our own employees and equipment, additional linemen from mutual assistance electric companies and line contracting companies, and tree trimmers can be called upon to speed restoration to our customers.