As hurricane season begins, community leaders, emergency managers and first responders turn their eyes to the tropics as they continue to prepare their communities for the possibility of impacts from severe weather. Duke Energy is preparing, too.
What's happening: Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $500,000 through the 2025 Helping Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) Grant Program to support severe weather emergency preparedness across South Carolina.
Where the money is going: More than three dozen government agencies and nonprofits are receiving grants up to $20,000 each. The grants will fund training, life-saving equipment and innovative technology identified as gaps or needs following recent severe weather events – all aimed to aid in weather-related disaster planning and recovery operations. A complete list of recipients can be found here.
Why it matters: Hurricane Helene and other severe weather events in recent years have had historic impacts on South Carolina – forever changing lives and landscapes. These storms have forced communities and their first responders to rethink how they prepare for future severe weather events. Duke Energy Foundation microgrants will help local governments and nonprofits improve their training, planning and responses.
By the numbers
What they’re saying
Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
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 8.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,100 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 energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage.
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.
Duke Energy
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Patricia D'Alessandro Government & Community Relations Manager
- May 29, 2025
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