PLAINFIELD — First responders statewide, including local fire departments and emergency management agencies in northwest Indiana, will benefit from grants from Duke Energy Foundation. The funding, which totals more than $285,000 for organizations across the state, will help public safety agencies increase their response capabilities during severe weather and other emergencies through advanced preparation, planning, equipment and training.
“During the current storm season, our service territory has experienced significant weather events, including an unusually high number of tornadoes,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “I am proud of our recovery work, and we could not accomplish it effectively without the collaboration of a host of first responders in our communities. We appreciate their assistance.”
During major emergencies and natural disasters, local emergency management agencies play a critical role in providing information, resources and support that Duke Energy relies on to speed power restoration for its customers.
Duke Energy Foundation shareholder-funded grants were awarded to the following area organizations:
• Hillsboro Fire Department (Fountain County): $3,110 will help the department purchase new fire helmets, which are made of more modern material, making them half the weight of current helmets and more resistant to punctures;
• City of Attica (Fountain County: $3,000 will be used to acquire and build four battery-powered, solar-charged radar speed signs, which display the speed on an illuminated screen, making drivers aware of their speed and whether they are violating the posted speed limit;
• Montgomery County EMA: $4,000 will go toward the agency’s “Building Community Resilience, One Brick at a Time” conference featuring training and presentations for all levels of emergency management professionals;
• West Lafayette Fire Department (Tippecanoe County): $4,500 to purchase three rescue boards — versatile, all-season equipment — that are designed for ice and water rescues; and
• Tippecanoe County Government: $5,000 to assist with a drone program that will increase visibility and safety during hazardous materials and flooding events, as well as during missing person searches and activities that include large crowds.
