Charlotte, NC May 15, 2024: — Powered by a $100,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, the Red Cross unveiled its new and improved Emergency app for weather safety. Enhancements help remove language, location and ability barriers and improve the overall user experience, ensuring all customers can have critical tools and preparedness information at their fingertips.

“We’re so grateful for Duke Energy and their generous sponsorship of the Red Cross Emergency app,” said Allie Taylor, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross North Carolina Region. “The app is an accessible, customizable tool that offers preparedness tips, area weather alerts, an interactive map of shelter locations and so much more to help keep your family safe, and we’re thankful for partners like Duke Energy who help make this possible.”

The latest version of the Emergency app comes as 2024’s Atlantic hurricane season nears, beginning June 1 and lasting through Nov. 30. It is free, is available in both English and Spanish and offers a variety of features informed by recent design studies and testing with differently abled audiences, including content at the Grade 6 reading level and enhanced gamification for disaster- and hazard-related updates.

“As storm threats continue to grow, we want to ensure our communities most vulnerable to climate risk and least able to prepare have access to trusted, tailored and actionable resources,” said Amy Strecker, Duke Energy Foundation president. “This app will empower our customers to better prepare for, respond to and recover from risks most common in their area when it matters most.”

DOWNLOAD THE APP

For anyone who downloads the app between now and June 30, Duke Energy will donate $1 to the Red Cross. The funds will help ensure the nonprofit can continue building capacity and resources ahead of time, keeping up with the pace of disasters and assisting customers when in need. The NEW Red Cross Emergency App can be downloaded from either the iOS and Android app stores.

MEDIA INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE If your media organization would like to set up an interview with Allie Taylor, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross North Carolina Region, and Amy Strecker, Duke Energy Foundation president, please contact Mike DeCinti, American Red Cross North Carolina Communications Director. Duke Energy Foundation 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.

Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its

natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media