Duke Energy : supports fellow first responders in South Carolina with $500,000 in grants for emergency preparedness, resiliency initiatives

• Funding could support training or help purchase life-saving equipment.

• Qualified nonprofits and governmental agencies from across state can apply.

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Duke Energy is creating a $500,000 microgrant program to help South Carolina communities weather future storms.

Households and businesses across the state in recent years have endured a number of significant and costly hurricanes, ice storms, floods and associated severe weather events. The Emergency Preparedness and Storm Resiliency Grant Program will help organizations with roles in emergency preparedness increase their resiliency to these events through advanced preparation, planning, equipment and training.

"Helping our communities prepare for and recover from severe weather takes significant resources that some communities across our state often don't have," said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's South Carolina state president. "We are committed to keeping South Carolina's economy and communities resilient and strong. These grants will help give our fellow first responders the tools and training they need to tackle whatever Mother Nature throws our way."

"Disaster preparedness begins and ends at home with members of our communities and with our first responders who know their communities best," said Kim Stenson, director of the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. "All of the major disasters South Carolina has experienced over the last few years have consistently proven our state's emergency management program. That system of support and coordination can only be made better when our local agencies have additional resources to train and plan for the types of large-scale emergencies their communities are most vulnerable to."

Grant details

Applicants can request funds up to $20,000. Nonprofits and governmental entities across all regions of the state are eligible to apply.

Grant applications may include, but are not limited to, projects that focus on:

• Specialized training for first responders for severe weather scenarios.
  
• Organized planning initiatives for communities to prepare for extreme weather.
  
• Equipment necessary for severe weather rescues to preserve human life.
  
• Community storm preparedness trainings, materials, kits or shelters.
  
• Emergency communication tools for severe weather scenarios.
  
• Improved outcomes for low-income communities experiencing extreme weather.

The application process opens on March 7 and will close on April 29, with grant decisions to be shared by May 20.

The online grant application can be found on the Duke Energy Foundation website.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts, and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 7.9 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities - with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to own or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery storage and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Ryan Mosier
800.559.3853