First responders statewide, including a sheriff’s office and fire and emergency management agencies in southeast Indiana, will benefit from grants from the Duke Energy Foundation.
The funding, which totals nearly $215,000 for organizations across the state, will help public safety agencies increase their response capabilities during severe weather and other emergencies through advanced preparation, planning, equipment and training.
“You don’t have to look any further than the severe midsummer storms that impacted our service territory in 2023 and 2024 to see how Duke Energy and local first responders consistently come together to assist our restoration efforts and help people get back on their feet,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana, during his remarks on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Emergency Management Alliance of Indiana’s annual conference in Indianapolis.
“That’s why I’m so grateful that today we’re able to help equip our fellow first responders with the tools and training to handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way. In the end, it will help us build a more resilient state.”
During major emergencies and natural disasters, local emergency management agencies play a critical role in providing information, resources and support that Duke Energy relies on to speed power restoration for its customers.
“Grants like these are key to helping smaller communities reduce their vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters,” said Reigna Zeigler, president of the Emergency Management Alliance of Indiana. “This funding from the Duke Energy Foundation will go a long way toward ensuring that our citizens are safer, our first responders are prepared, and our communities can recover from disasters quickly.”
The grants include $4,000 to the city of Seymour to purchase foam response equipment for firefighters and $2,500 to the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency to support the build-out of the EMA’s response group, including new and updated equipment.
The 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 Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 900,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.