ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. - With Labor Day just past, the peak of hurricane season is upon us, so it is important to recognize September as National Preparedness Month.
Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, focuses on preparedness all year long to minimize the impact of storms on our customers. But, as no system can be completely storm proof, it is vital that people be aware of what they can do to prepare for major storms or other emergencies.
"With Tropical Storm Isaac's westward turn into the Gulf of Mexico, most of our customers were spared from the brunt of the storm," said Jason Cutliffe, storm director for Progress Energy Florida. "However, we were well prepared with the necessary resources and personnel to handle whatever damages the storm may have caused."
Since its inception in 2004, National Preparedness Month has been sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security. The goal is to encourage Americans to take simple steps to ensure their homes, businesses and schools are prepared for emergencies such as natural disasters or potential terrorist attacks.
Information on what to do before, during and after various types of emergencies can be found at www.ready.gov.
It is important to ensure your family develops an emergency plan and creates an emergency supply kit. If you stocked up in anticipation of Tropical Storm Isaac, you may still be in good shape. A three-day minimum supply of bottled water, canned and shelf-stable food, batteries, prescriptions and other items are suggested.
Progress Energy Florida has a complete checklist available at www.progress-energy.com (click on "For Your Home" and then "Safety Information"). Additional storm preparation and safety information are also available on the website.
Progress Energy Florida encourages residents to be prepared year-round for potential power outages. While outages are frequently caused by severe weather, they can also be the result of a fallen tree limb or traffic accident.
Our customers can stay informed on the status of disruptions to service by viewing the Progress Energy online outage map at www.progress-energy.com/outagemap.
Progress Energy Florida customers can also receive updates via social media by "following" @ProgEnergyFL on Twitter or "liking" Progress Energy Florida on Facebook.
For more information related to being prepared for storms and outages, visit www.duke-energy.com/storms.
Progress Energy Florida
Progress Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), provides electricity and related services to more than 1.6 million customers in Florida. The company is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., and serves a territory encompassing more than 20,000 square miles including the cities of St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as the Central Florida area surrounding Orlando. Progress Energy Florida is pursuing a balanced approach to meeting the future energy needs of the region. That balance includes increased energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. More information is available at www.progress-energy.com.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.