With Hurricane Helene providing a stark reminder of the value of emergency preparedness and the beginning of the 2025 hurricane season, the Duke Energy Foundation has awarded $500,000 to multiple agencies across the state and including many in the Upstate.
This is the fourth year of the foundation’s Helping Emergency Response Organizations Grant program, which has awarded $2 million in microgrants to 137 agencies and nonprofits across South Carolina of up to $20,000 each.
This year’s HERO grants are benefiting more than two dozen agencies in support of emergency preparedness, including the following in the Upstate:
- Anderson County — $15,000 for traffic management equipment
- Belton — $11,000 for additional radio equipment
- Cherokee County Emergency Management — $15,000 for permanent digital signage
- Greenwood County — $15,000 for a rescue boat and trailer
- Greenville County Sheriff’s Office — $10,000 for swift water dry suits
- Greenville County Emergency Management — $10,000 for swift water dry suits
- Durbin Creek Volunteer Fire Department (Laurens County) — $18,000 for a utility task vehicle and road barricades
- Walhalla — $4,000 for traffic management equipment
- Westminster — $5,000 for chainsaws and training
- Oconee County — $11,000 for a mobile delivery platform to deliver supplies to emergency shelters
- Clemson — $10,000 for a transportable wood chipper
- School District of PIckens County — $9,000 for satellite phones
- North Spartanburg Fire District — $15,000 for a drone capable of delivering supplies before rescue can occur
- South Spartanburg Fire District — $15,000 for radios and other communications equipment
- Pacolet Station Fire District — $10,000 for a utility vehicle and road barricades
- Inman Community Volunteer Fire Department — $20,000 for additional radios
The grants also include $15,000 for the S.C. Emergency Medical Services Foundation to create ambulance strike team leaders statewide, a need identified during Helene response. Another $20,000 was awarded to the American Red Cross to support long-term recovery in communities impacted by the hurricane.
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.