Wake County has joined forces with the Duke Energy Foundation to hand out emergency kits to residents, helping them prepare for severe weather and power outages. The initiative, funded by a HERO grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, aims to distribute essential supplies to those most vulnerable during disasters, including seniors, lower-income families, and individuals with disabilities.
The county's approach targets individual readiness as a linchpin of broader community resilience. "Emergency preparedness starts at the individual level," Vice Chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners Don Mial stated, in a statement obtained by the Wake County. "When all residents have access to the resources that will keep them safe during a crisis or natural disaster, our whole community becomes more resilient." The kits will include items such as flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, weather radios, and emergency blankets.
Outreach, training, and exercise manager for Wake County Emergency Management, Autumn Miller, highlighted the practical benefits of the kits. She told the Wake County, "Having an emergency kit on hand will give you peace of mind when severe weather approaches. Instead of having to run to the store for bandages or batteries, you can spend that valuable time preparing your home and making plans with your family."
Distribution details for the emergency kits will be announced soon with limited quantities available. For residents interested in assembling their own, Wake County's website provides a comprehensive checklist at readywake.com. Over the past five years, the Duke Energy Foundation has invested over $1.8 million in grants to support local emergency response organizations, to enhance storm preparedness across North Carolina.
