With hurricane season underway, Duke Energy is strengthening emergency response capabilities across North Carolina through its Helping Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) grant program. Pender County Emergency Management is among 20 local government agencies and nonprofits selected to receive a $25,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation to enhance local disaster preparedness.

The HERO grant program supports training, equipment and planning efforts that help emergency response organizations stay ready for severe weather. In Pender County, the funding will be used to improve communications and response tools for Emergency Management staff and first responders,  a critical need in coastal communities vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding.

“Pender County, along with many coastal communities and counties, is one disaster away from losing the communications we use every day,” said Tommy Batson, Pender County Emergency Management Director. “This grant from Duke Energy will help us bridge this gap during the next event by providing additional tools and resources that support continuity in emergency operations.”

Pam Hardy, district manager in Duke Energy’s government and community relations division, presented the grant during the July meeting of the Pender County Board of Commissioners. 

The HERO grant program is part of Duke Energy’s larger effort to invest in community safety and disaster response. Since its inception, the program has provided millions in funding to help first responders, public safety agencies and nonprofit partners prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.

The $25,000 grant will help Pender County Emergency Management maintain operational readiness, invest in new equipment and support continued training for personnel in the field.