Duke Energy supports North Carolina emergency response organizations with $500,000 in storm preparedness funds

Core Viewpoint - Duke Energy is enhancing support for storm preparedness initiatives in North Carolina by providing grants to local emergency response organizations, aiming to bolster community resilience against natural disasters [1][3]. Group 1: Grant Details - Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $25,000 grants to twenty government agencies and nonprofits to fund severe weather preparedness measures [2]. - The HERO grants will finance emergency preparedness equipment and first responder training, benefiting 20 essential disaster response organizations [7]. Group 2: Importance of Preparedness - Recent natural disasters have had devastating effects across North Carolina, highlighting the need for collaborative response planning as another storm season approaches [3]. - The Duke Energy Foundation has supported over 100 local emergency response organizations with more than$1.8 million in grant funding over the past five years to enhance storm preparedness [4]. Group 3: Statements from Officials - Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina president, emphasized the importance of proactive collaboration with local emergency response organizations to ensure community preparedness [8]. - Local officials, such as Tommy Batson and Tony Ray, expressed gratitude for the grants, noting their critical role in improving emergency response capabilities and community safety [8]. Group 4: Duke Energy Overview - Duke Energy is a major energy holding company serving 8.6 million customers across several states and owns 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity [10]. - The company is committed to an ambitious energy transition, focusing on electric grid upgrades and cleaner energy generation [11].