ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Florida is readying
8,000 workers to respond to Tropical Storm Helene. As the storm
approaches, these skilled individuals are being strategically
placed across the state, enabling them to respond as quickly as
possible to widespread power outages that are expected as a result
of strong winds and heavy rainfall.
The company is also sending crews from Duke Energy's Midwest
operations in Kentucky,
Ohio and Indiana.
Responders include power line technicians, vegetation workers,
damage assessors and support personnel.
Trucks will begin arriving at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs, The Villages and Suwannee Valley Farmer's Market later this
afternoon. Staging locations are positioned along the outside of
Helene's projected path, but as close to the impacted areas as
possible. Crews are prepared to start power restoration as soon as
conditions are safe.
"As soon as conditions allow, our dedicated team will be on the
ground, carefully assessing the damage and working tirelessly to
get the lights back on for our customers," said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm
director. "In the meantime, our customers should continue to
prepare for this rapidly moving storm and remain vigilant in the
days ahead."
Duke Energy Florida urges its more than 2 million customers to
consider the following safety tips:
- Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.
- If rising water threatens your home or business – or if you
evacuate due to flooding – turn off your power at the circuit
breaker panel or fuse box.
- Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands
or while standing on a wet or damp surface.
- 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 are 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. Do not drive over – and do
not 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.
To report a power outage, text OUT to 57801, call 800.228.8485
or report online or through the mobile app. For more safety tips,
please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips.
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 X, LinkedIn,
Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories
about the people and innovations powering our energy
transition.
Contact: Ana Gibbs
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy