Energy crews prepare to respond to the effects of Hurricane Ian | duke energy

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  The company is lowering the lake level ahead of the storm’s expected landfall in the Carolinas.

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  Customers in the Carolinas should be prepared for outages.

CHARLOTTE, NC – As Hurricane Ian leaves Florida today and follows an expected northward march, Duke Energy is preparing its crews to respond to potential power outages in the Carolinas. The storm is expected to bring with it high winds and heavy rain that could lead to localized flooding. On Wednesday, states of emergency were declared by the governors of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy has 5,200 local responders organized into shift teams – including line technicians, vegetation specialists and damage assessors – who are very familiar with the company’s existing systems and infrastructure in the Carolinas. They will be organized in all Duke Energy service areas in the Carolinas, ready to respond as soon as it is safe to do so.

Duke Energy prepares for storms throughout the year and is able to draw on other resources from peer utilities and throughout the region.

Flooding and Flooding Possible on Duke Energy Lakes

Duke Energy has lowered lake levels by moving water through its river systems, creating more storage for precipitation and runoff.

Based on current forecasts, a spill is possible. People living along lakes and rivers or in flood-prone areas, including those along the Catawba-Wateree Basin, should closely monitor lake levels and follow instructions from local emergency officials.

Real-time lake level information is available at www.duke-energy.com/community/lakesby calling 800.829.5253 or on the Duke Energy Lake View mobile app.

Flood and Flood Safety Reminders

• Learn about your county’s emergency plans, warning signs, evacuation routes and emergency shelter locations.
  
• Turn off the power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box if rising water threatens your home or if you are evacuating your home.
  
• Stay away from downed power lines and wires. Do not drive or stand near downed power lines. Electric current passes easily through water.
  
• Avoid driving in flooded areas; most flood-related deaths occur in automobiles.
  
• Pay close attention to local emergency management officials, the National Weather Service and the media for changing weather conditions and rising waters.
  
• If you have electrical service to facilities (piers, outdoor lighting on seawalls, etc.) on or near water, have a qualified electrician turn off that service to avoid personal injury and property damage.
  
• Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet or damp surface.
  
• 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 any damage, an electrician will need to make the necessary repairs and obtain verification from your local building inspection authority before power can be restored.

Customers in the Carolinas should prepare for outages

While residents of coastal areas are often most at risk of being affected by hurricanes, Ian’s current track is expected to bring high winds and damaging rains inland. Before the storm hits, customers should text REG to 57801 to ensure they are registered to receive text updates on outages that may affect them.

Customers experiencing an outage during a storm can report it as follows:

• Text 57801 (standard text and data rates may apply).
  
• Visit duke-energy.com on a desktop or mobile device.
  
• Use the Duke Energy mobile app – Download the Duke Energy app from a smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.
  
• Call the automated fault reporting system at: 800.POWERON (800.769.3766).
  
• Customer service specialists will be available to handle customer calls when needed, with additional corporate responders from all Duke Energy jurisdictions available to assist as needed.

There is also an interactive breakdown map where customers can find up-to-date power outage information, including total system-wide outages and estimated times to restore.

Power restoration process

Duke Energy is focused on restoring power in an order that restores power to public health and safety facilities and to as many customers as safely and quickly as possible. Click here for more information on how Duke Energy restores power.

Important Safety Tips

Duke Energy encourages customers to have a power outage plan in place. Below are tips to help you and your family stay safe.

• 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 medicine, water, non-perishable food, and other supplies that might be hard to come by after a storm.
  
• Keep a portable radio or TV or NOAA weather radio handy to monitor weather forecasts and important information from state and local authorities.
  
• Charge cell phones, computers and other electronics ahead of storms to stay connected to important safety and response information. Consider buying portable chargers and make sure they are fully charged as well.
  
• Maintain a plan to move family members – especially those with special needs – to another safe location in the event of an extended power outage or if an evacuation is necessary.
  
• If a power line falls across a car you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other life-threatening situation, do your best to get out of the car and land on both feet. Make sure no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.
  
• If you must go to a disaster shelter, follow the CDC’s recommendations for staying safe and healthy in a public disaster shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duke Energy has a dedicated web page for Hurricane Ian updates available at English and Spanish.

duke energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively possess 50,000 megawatts of power capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to meet its goals of net methane emissions from its natural gas business and at least 50% carbon reduction from power generation by 2030 and net emissions carbon emissions by 2050. Zero goals also include Scope 2 emissions and some Scope 3 emissions. zero-emission power generation such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2022 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “America’s Top Employers” list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains press releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy lighting features stories about people, innovations, community issues and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, instagram and Facebook.

Media Contact: Jeff Brooks (Carolina Media Inquiries)
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_JeffB