- Prepare now for possible power outages as impacts may be felt
broadly across Duke Energy Florida's service territory
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 3, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is mobilizing more than 3,000 power
line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors and support
personnel to respond to possible power outages as heavy rainfall,
strong winds and localized flooding are likely with the approaching
storm in Florida.
Crews from Duke Energy's Midwest operations in Kentucky and Ohio will help begin repairs and power
restoration as soon as weather conditions safely allow.
Staging crews and resources near areas that will likely be
affected allows the company to restore power quickly and safely
once the storm passes.
"We are bringing additional crews to Florida today and will continue to adjust our
resources as the storm approaches," said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm
director. "We encourage our customers to heed their local
officials' warnings, take necessary precautions and prioritize
safety before, during and after the storm."
Important safety reminders for customers:
- Ensure an adequate supply of flashlights, batteries, bottled
water, nonperishable foods, medicines, etc., as well as the
availability of a portable, battery-operated radio, TV or weather
radio.
- Consider alternate shelter arrangements as needed if you will
be significantly impacted by a loss of power – especially families
who have special medical needs or seniors. Customers that are
dependent on medical equipment should have a power backup system,
as well as an action plan for proceeding to the nearest medical
facility.
- Make sure contact information is up to date and communication
preferences are noted in your account so you can receive proactive
updates from Duke Energy on the status of power outages.
- Customers are also encouraged to sign up for alerts and know
how to report an outage. Receive the most up-to-date information
about restoration efforts by enrolling in Outage Alerts. If
you lose power, text OUT to 57801, report online or through the
mobile app, or call 800.343.3525.
- Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging.
Consider all lines energized as well as trees or limbs in contact
with lines. Report all power line hazards to Duke Energy at
800.228.8485 or contact your local emergency services department or
agency.
- If a power line falls across a car that you're in, stay in the
car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other
immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of
the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is
touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
- Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from
downed power lines and electrical wires. Don't drive over – and
don't stand near – downed power lines. Downed lines will be hard to
see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If
you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and
choose another path.
- A generator can be very useful during a power outage but
remember to always follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure
safe and proper operation. Please watch for utility crews and turn
the generator off when crews are in your area. The electrical load
on the power lines can be hazardous for crews making repairs.
Additionally, customers are encouraged to download the enhanced
American Red Cross Emergency app for weather safety. The
latest version of the app, sponsored by the Duke Energy Foundation,
is free, is available in both English and Spanish and offers a
variety of features including emergency checklists, interactive
maps of open shelters and the ability to monitor multiple locations
for weather alerts.
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 Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook,
and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations
powering our energy transition.
Contact: Audrey Stasko
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS
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SOURCE Duke Energy