Duke Energy Florida will announce on Wednesday recipients of $50,000 grants to Pinellas County-based organizations, an event timed to honor the anniversary of last year’s Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The back-to-back hurricanes, which wrought destruction across the region, made landfall in Florida just two weeks apart. Helen struck the Big Bend region on Sept. 26, 2024. Though it didn’t make landfall anywhere near Pinellas County, the area experienced extensive and catastrophic flooding from significant storm surge.
Milton hit just south of Tampa Bay, near Siesta Key, on Oct. 9. While flooding was not as big of an issue from Milton, sustained tropical storm-force winds from the “dirty side of the storm” caused widespread structural damage, including blowing the roof off Tropicana Field and toppling a construction crane in downtown St. Pete.
Duke Energy is holding its event outside its Mobile Command Center, a critical resource the company uses during hurricane season. The center controls daily operations of crews ensuring lights stay on for customers. The event later this week marks the center’s opening for the season, as the peak season for Gulf storm activity begins.
Duke Energy is withholding the direct location of the command center for security reasons. But media will be able to view the center, with tours set for the Distribution Control Center at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by a tour of the Mobile Command Center, and then the grant announcement at 2:50, with Duke Energy Florida President Melissa Seixas set to deliver remarks.
Duke Energy provides tools and information each year ahead of and during hurricane season. Earlier this month[1], the company provided information and supplies[2] for local seniors and their pets.
The company distributed about 400 “shelter in place” kits along with pet preparedness bags at two senior centers, the Enoch Davis Center and the Sunshine Center. The kits include large rolling coolers, collapsible water containers, shelf-stable food, cleaning and hygiene products and other items that may be needed in the event of a storm.
For their pets, the company provided travel food bowls, slip leashes, waste bags and other necessities.
Duke Energy offers storm preparedness tips for all before, during and after a storm.
Before a storm[3], the company recommends making a plan, including how to move yourself and your family to a safe location if located in an evacuation zone; having a portable radio or weather radio to monitor information; ensuring adequate supplies such as shelf-stable food and water; having cash on hand; charging all devices; protecting important documents in a waterproof container; making arrangements for pets; knowing where shelters are; filling vehicles with gas; and checking emergency power sources to ensure they are working.
During a storm[4], the company reminds residents to seek shelter in a well-constructed building; disconnect or turn off any nonessential electrical equipment; stay away from windows and doors during high wind activity; avoid walking, swimming or driving in flood waters; and, perhaps most importantly, to heed instructions and guidance from emergency management officials.
After the storm[5], Duke Energy emphasizes continued safety precautions, including staying away from downed power lines and other hazardous areas such as floodwaters and debris piles; looking for damage that may prevent power from being restored in the event of an outage; not wiring a generator directly to a breaker fuse box; operating generators only outdoors; documenting home damage and other losses; and disconnecting electrical equipment to avoid overloading circuits when power is restored.
More information is available on Duke Energy’s storm preparedness website[6].
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References
- ^ Earlier this month (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ provided information and supplies (news.duke-energy.com)
- ^ Before a storm (www.duke-energy.com)
- ^ During a storm (www.duke-energy.com)
- ^ After the storm (www.duke-energy.com)
- ^ storm preparedness website (www.duke-energy.com)