Duke Energy supports South Carolina first responders with $500,000 in grants for emergency preparedness

GREENVILLE, S.C., June 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As emergency managers, first responders and community leaders are preparing their communities for the 2026 hurricane season, the Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $500,000 through the 2026 Helping Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) Grant Program to help South Carolina communities be prepared for the impacts from severe weather.

By the numbers: More than 30 organizations are receiving grants of up to $20,000 each. The grants will fund training, life-saving equipment and innovative technology identified as needs following severe weather events – all aimed to aid in weather-related disaster planning and recovery efforts. A complete list of recipients can be found here.

Our view: "Duke Energy is proud to work alongside first responders when severe weather hits, and a critical part of emergency response is preparation," said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy's South Carolina president. "We strive to help fill the gaps in emergency preparedness our communities have, and hope that these grants can help emergency managers, first responders and community leaders better prepare to protect and help our communities."

Proven success:

In the fifth year of the program, past grant recipients were able to help fill the gaps in emergency preparedness for their communities. Read more about the impact.

Positive response:

Duke Energy Foundation
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 
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 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Media Contact: Catherine Ramirez
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

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SOURCE Duke Energy