​​​​​​​​​Emergency responders and public officials

​​Steps to safe​guard the public

emergency responder​​CenterPoint Energy's actions during an emergency

  • We will immediately dispatch personnel to the site to help handle the emergency and provide information to public safety officials to aid in their response. 
  • We will also take the necessary operating actions to​​​ minimize the impact of the emergency. 
  • Public safety personnel and other unauthorized personnel should not attempt to operate any of the valves on the pipeline. Improper operation of the pipeline valves could make the situation worse and cause other accidents to happen.​

Incident Command System

CenterPoint Energy personnel are trained to work within the Unified Incident Command System.  Our qualified personnel are trained in emergency response activities and regularly receive refresher training reflecting various types of response levels and emergency scenarios.

 
Four basic natural gas emergency situations
  • Gas Escaping Outside – Control ignition sources.
  • Gas Burning Outside – Let it burn! Burning will not explode!
  • Gas Escaping Inside – Do not operate electrical switches.
  • Gas Burning Inside - Shut the gas valve off at the meter and leave it off.

Natural gas do’s

  • Protect life then property
  • Notify CenterPoint Energy immediately
  • Treat all gas leaks as potentially hazardous
  • Control all potential ignition sources
  • Evacuate structures as needed
  • Secure affected areas
  • Use only properly calibrated detection equipment
  • Always anticipate and expect that an explosion could occur
  • Use only intrinsically-safe equipment, such as, communications and other electrically-operated equipment 

Natural gas don’ts

  • Don’t park over, in front of or downwind of emergency locations
  • Don’t park over manhole, valve covers, storm drains or too close to structures
  • Don’t use open flames (flares,  smoking, other sources)
  • Don’t operate any in-ground, underground or above ground valves
  • Don’t operate any potential ignition sources (doorbells, light switches, pagers, cell phones, radios)
  • Don’t turn off venting relief valves
  • Don’t extinguish gas fires until fuel sources have been secured and shutoff
  • Don’t shut off gas service to industrial facilities without knowledge of its effect
  • Don’t attempt to make repairs to gas facilities
  • Don’t ventilate structures with non-intrinsically safe fans/blowers


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