- Awards $50,000 to the American
Red Cross as Hurricane Helene makes landfall in Florida later today
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hurricane Helene makes
landfall in Florida later today,
Duke Energy Florida is reminding customers that the company has
8,000 workers, including nearly 4,000 in The Villages in Central Florida, ready to respond to
widespread power outages as soon as conditions allow. The company
is also encouraging customers to remain informed and vigilant –
while prioritizing safety above all else – before, during and after
the storm.
"Hurricane Helene poses a significant threat to Florida's Big Bend and other communities along
the state's west coast. The potential of a category four storm can
cause widespread damage to our equipment resulting in extended
outage durations for our customers," said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm
director. "We can't overstate how critical it is for our customers
in these areas to keep safety top of mind in the hours and days
ahead."
In anticipation of the Hurricane Helene, the Duke Energy
Foundation has awarded $50,000 to the
American Red Cross to support disaster response and relief efforts.
This is in addition to the $3.5
million the Foundation has donated specifically to the
American Red Cross' emergency response work in Florida over the last five years, as well as a
previous $100,000 grant to upgrade
the organization's Emergency app.
"The American Red Cross offers life-saving services in the
aftermath of hurricanes and other disasters," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state
president. "It's our privilege to contribute to this important
mission and help ensure our fellow Floridians can get back on their
feet as quickly as possible post-Helene."
Customers are advised to practice the safety protocols
below:
- Have a portable radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio on hand to
monitor the storm's latest developments.
- In case of strong winds, stay away from windows and doors, even
if they are covered. Seek shelter in a small interior room, closet
or hallway on the lowest floor.
- Disconnect or turn off any nonessential electrical equipment
that may start automatically when power is restored to avoid
overloading circuits.
- Do not open freezers or refrigerators more than necessary.
Opening these appliances will allow food to thaw quicker. For more
information, see the FDA's food safety guidelines.
To report a power outage, text OUT to 57801, call 800.228.8485
or report online or through the mobile app. For more safety tips,
please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary
of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying
electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial
customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in
Florida.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune
150 company headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies.
The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities
serve 1.7 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition,
keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the
forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions
from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions
from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in
major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including
expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and
nuclear.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke
Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn,
Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories
about the people and innovations powering our energy
transition.
Contact: Ana Gibbs
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy