-information courtesy of Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood

Granville County has received $30,000 from the Duke Energy Foundation’s Emergency Preparedness fund, most of which will be used to purchase automated external defibrillators and supplies used to operate emergency shelters.

Granville is one of 24 organizations across the state to share $750,000 from the Duke Energy Foundation, according to information from Terry Hobgood, the county’s public information officer.

The county’s emergency management office will use $25,000 to purchase the AEDs and other materials that shelters need in the event of a natural disaster. The AEDs will be placed at numerous county facilities. The remaining $5,000 will be used to make trail safety improvements at Granville Athletic Park.

“We are thankful to the Duke Energy Foundation for recognizing the importance of providing equipment for life-saving measures made by possible by AEDs, supplies for our county’s emergency shelters, and trail improvements at the Granville Athletic Park,” said Assistant County Manager Korena Weichel. “All of these projects will make a huge impact in Granville’s emergency preparedness and the safety of our citizens.”

The Duke Energy Foundation focuses grant funds on helping emergency preparedness organizations respond and recover more quickly from weather events and disasters through advanced preparation and planning. The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. For more information about Duke Energy and the Duke Energy Foundation, visit www.duke-energy.com or follow Duke Energy on social media.