Duke Energy Florida Crews Respond to Winter Storm Fern

About 500 Duke Energy Florida crews and contractors arrived safely in Florence, South Carolina, on Jan. 22 ahead of Winter Storm Fern.  As they prepared for the potential impacts of the storm, they were staged at the Florence Civic Center.

As of last Thursday, the storm mobile command center was already being put to work as crews planned for worsening weather conditions that arrived on Sunday.

Even during peak afternoon temperatures last Saturday, the windchill dropped into the 20s (where the crews are located). Company meteorologists continued to closely monitor the storm to help predict the impact.  

Lineworkers, vegetation management crews, safety personnel and support staff from across Duke Energy Florida’s 35-county service territory left at dawn Friday morning to support its sister utility in the Carolinas.

In total, about 18,000 workers were sent to the Carolinas – including the 500 from Florida – which was comparable to what the utility brought in after Hurricane Helene in 2024 (16,000).

The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $100,000 in a rapid response grant to the American Red Cross to help Carolinas communities prepare for and withstand storm impacts. Funding will be distributed across North Carolina and South Carolina to help strengthen local efforts to address cold-weather needs, including warming shelters, emergency supplies, blankets and support for community-run shelters.