BPUB Prepares for Hurricane Season

With hurricane season here, the Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) is making sure that all personnel is ready should a hurricane or tropical storm head toward the Rio Grande Valley.

Being prepared for a storm is a year-round endeavor, ensuring that equipment is maintained throughout the year, but efforts increase at the start of hurricane season, which runs from June 1 until Sept. 30.

Tree limbs and palm fronds making contact with power lines is one of the most frequent causes of power outages, and strong winds brought by a storm can amplify that issue. That is why BPUB has a tree trimming service active all year, but during this time, efforts are ramped up to cut down limbs throughout BPUB’s service territory. BPUB customers who observe branches near a power line can request a free tree trimming by calling 956-983-6201 or by calling BPUB’s main number 956-983-6100.

BPUB crews are also ensuring that backup generators stationed around the city to keep vital systems running, like lift stations and water pumps by resacas, are operational. Any issues that are discovered can be fixed now rather than scrambling for repairs as a storm nears.

Because a hurricane is an emergency event, BPUB personnel might be forced to take on duties with which they aren’t as familiar. That’s why there are staff drills in emergency responses and cross-training to allow for a seamless transition in the event of an emergency.

With the U.S. National Weather Service predicting 10-16 named storms this hurricane season, BPUB wants to assure its customers that it is doing everything it can to be ready in the case of an emergency. All employees are familiar with BPUB’s General Emergency Plan and ready to do whatever is needed to assist the city should the need arise.