Duke Energy Florida distributed about 400 “Shelter in Place Kits” to seniors at the Enoch Davis Center and the Sunshine Center in St. Petersburg, as part of its ongoing effort to help residents prepare for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The event also included pet preparedness bags with supplies such as travel food bowls and slip leashes.
The kits provided to residents aged 60 and older contained a rolling cooler, collapsible water container, shelf-stable food, cleaning products, hygiene items, and other essentials for sheltering in place during a storm.
“Duke Energy Florida has deep roots in St. Pete, including thousands of current employees and retirees who call this city home,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “After last year’s devastating storms, it’s extremely important to me, as it is to everyone in our company, that our residents are prepared for whatever may come our way in the months ahead. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support so many seniors and appreciate the collaboration with the city of St. Petersburg and the Florida Council on Aging.”
Erin McLeod, president of the Florida Council on Aging (FCOA), highlighted the value of partnerships between corporations and agencies serving older adults: “Working with corporate partners like Duke Energy Florida has such an impact on older adults across the state. FCOA is proud to serve as a conduit between the agencies that touch thousands of older adults’ lives and the businesses that have a strong desire to make a difference.”
During the event at the Sunshine Center, Duke Energy’s customer care team was available to answer questions from seniors about energy efficiency programs and financial assistance resources. More information about these services can be found at https://www.duke-energy.com/HereToHelp.
For additional storm preparedness tips or resources—including emergency mobile app downloads—residents are encouraged to visit https://www.duke-energy.com/StormTips.
Duke Energy Florida serves approximately 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida. Its parent company Duke Energy operates electric utilities across several states and is focused on modernizing its grid infrastructure while investing in cleaner energy sources such as renewables and energy storage.
More details about Duke Energy’s operations can be found at https://www.duke-energy.com or through their official social media channels.
