ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.,
July 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- With Tropical Storm Elsa's imminent landfall expected along
Florida's west coast, Duke Energy
is prepared and urging customers to immediately take steps to be
safe.
"At Duke Energy, safety always comes first. We actively care
about the safety of our customers, crews and employees during and
after every storm event," said Todd Fountain, Duke
Energy's Florida storm director. "We're trained and prepared,
and we want to ensure our customers are safe and prepared for any
impacts from the storm."
Duke Energy operates in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and the Carolinas, which gives the
company the ability to pull company resources from other areas not
affected by the storm's path when severe weather strikes.
The company's storm center has been activated and about 3,000
Duke Energy crew members, contractors, tree
specialists and other personnel are being staged
from Pinellas County to north Florida. Duke Energy
has brought in additional line workers and support personnel from
its service territories in the Carolinas, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. Placing crews near areas that will
likely be affected by this system allows for the quickest and
safest response after a storm passes through.
The company is closely monitoring the weather system, which has
the potential to strengthen into a hurricane and is likely to bring
heavy rainfall, strong winds and localized flooding to portions of
the Duke Energy Florida service area.
In addition to making safety a priority, customers should also
prepare for power outages. Despite extensive system improvements
and rigorous tree trimming, strong winds, wind-blown debris and
flooding can cause power outages. When outages occur, Duke Energy
is committed to restoring power as safely and quickly as possible,
while keeping customers informed throughout the process.
Duke Energy recommends customers double-check their readiness
for possible power outages and offers the following tips to help
you and your family stay safe if the power goes out:
- Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging.
Consider all lines energized, as well as trees, limbs or anything
in contact with lines.
- 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.
- Create (or update) an emergency supply kit to save valuable
time later. The kit should include everything an individual or
family would need for at least two weeks, especially medicines and
other supplies that might be hard to find after a storm
strikes.
- Keep a portable radio or TV or a NOAA weather radio on hand to
monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and
local officials.
- Charge cellphones, computers and other electronic devices in
advance of the storm to stay connected to important safety and
response information. Consider purchasing portable chargers and
make sure they are fully charged as well.
- Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with
special needs – to a safe, alternative location in case an extended
power outage occurs, or evacuation is required.
Customers should stay tuned to local news for the latest
advisories from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane
Center (NHC), as well as state and local emergency management
officials.
For a hurricane kit checklist and important safety information,
visit www.ready.gov. In addition, tips on what to do before,
during and after a storm can be found in the Storm Center at
duke-energy.com/safety-and-preparedness/storm-safety. A checklist
serves as a helpful guide, but it's critical before, during and
after a storm to follow the instructions and warnings of emergency
management officials in your area.
High-water safety reminders
- People who live along lakes and rivers, and in other low-lying
areas or areas prone to flooding, should pay close attention to
local emergency management officials, National Weather Service and
media for changing weather conditions and rising lake and river
levels.
- High-water conditions can create navigational hazards, and the
public should use caution and adhere to the advice of local
emergency management officials before going on area lakes or
rivers.
- If rising water threatens your home – or if you evacuate your
home – turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse
box.
- 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.
- If your home or business is flooded, Duke Energy cannot
reconnect power until the electrical system has been inspected by a
licensed electrician. If there is damage, an electrician will need
to make repairs and obtain verification from your local building
inspection authority before power can be restored.
Power restoration process
Duke Energy focuses on restoring power in a sequence that
enables power restoration to public health and safety facilities
and to the greatest number of customers as safely and quickly as
possible. Click here for information on how Duke Energy
restores power.
Customers who experience a power outage can report it the
following ways:
- Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop computer or mobile
device.
- Use the Duke Energy mobile app (download the Duke Energy app on
your smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play).
- Text OUT to 57801 (standard text and data
charges may apply).
- Call Duke Energy's automated outage-reporting system:
800.228.8485.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns a diverse
generation mix of natural gas, coal and renewables, providing about
10,200 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.9
million customers in 35 counties across a 13,000- square-mile
service area in Florida.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of the
largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000
people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts
through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its
nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience,
modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and
expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy
future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric
Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve
approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states –
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities
and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6
million customers in five states – North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit
operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as
well as energy storage and microgrid projects.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list.
More information about the company is available at
duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains
news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials.
Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people,
innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke
Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Contact: Allison Barker
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Cell: 304.553.9104
Twitter: @DE_AllisonB
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SOURCE Duke Energy