When Magno Alvarez Ruiz, a 68-year-old man with dementia, wandered away from his Spartanburg, South Carolina, home in July, 40 officers from three separate agencies joined the search. But it was a drone purchased through a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation that spotted the lost grandfather in a heavily wooded area about a mile from his home.
The drone was one of two purchased for emergency weather response through a $20,000 grant provided by the foundation.
Over the last five years, the foundation has donated more than $19.5 million to aid disaster readiness and recovery across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The funding covers lifesaving equipment such as the drone that helped find Ruiz, along with training and new technology that aids in disaster planning and recovery operations.
In South Carolina alone, the foundation has awarded just under 100 grants totaling $1.5 million over the last three years. These grants help communities prepare for and recover from weather emergencies.
According to Duke Energy, both preparedness and response grants are part of the comprehensive way the utility thinks about supporting communities.
“When a storm is coming, we make a unique philanthropy plan relative to the severity and the impact of the storm that often includes funding ahead of the storm to support shelters and evacuation efforts, then additional funding after the storm to align with the greatest need,” Amy Strecker, president of the Duke Energy Foundation, told American Gas. “As no two storms are the same, our plans are customized for the community and the occasion.”
This year, for example, the foundation has embarked on an expanded partnership with the American Red Cross to support the accessibility of its emergency app. Employees have also assisted in disaster preparation by building storm kits and through hands-on volunteering.
While the distress Ruiz faced was not related to weather, his rescue is an excellent example of what preparing for such emergencies can do.
“By supporting local organizations on the front lines of disaster preparation and response, we help build community infrastructure and readiness to respond to myriad emergencies,” Strecker said. “We’re committed to standing with our communities every step of the way—from proactive planning to response and recovery.”
Added Robbie Swofford of Spartanburg County Emergency Services, who aided in the search for Ruiz, “The cameras, the zoom, the clarity … we were fortunate to get some of the best technology out there. This was huge for us, thanks to Duke Energy.”