VA Power Outages: 300+ Reported In Fairfax County, 177K Statewide

VIRGINIA — Tens of thousands of Virginians remain without power Thursday, including more than 300 in Fairfax County, two days after a winter storm dumped more than 10 inches of snow on parts of the state.

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, 320 homes and businesses in Fairfax County were without power, according to tracking website PowerOutage.us. Two hours later, the outages had dropped to 86.

When contacted by Patch, a Dominion Energy spokesperson said the Fairfax County outages were attributed to "everyday trouble" and called it a routine outage call. The company expects to have power restored by 10 p.m. Saturday or earlier.

A bulk of the remaining weather-related outages were concentrated in central and southwest Virginia on Thursday, including in Franklin, Campbell, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties.

The 48-hour duration of this week's winter storm produced a mixture of heavy wet snow and ice causing severe damage to trees, tree limbs and power lines across the region, according to a statement shared by Dominion Energy on social media.

Dominion said crews worked through Wednesday night to restore power to more than 80 percent of their 210,000 customers impacted by the storm.

"Thousands of line workers, patrollers and other support personnel will continue working around the clock to restore everyone’s power as safely and quickly as possible," Dominion said.

On Thursday morning, a bulk of the outages were Appalachian Power customers. The company said approximately 125,000 customers were without electric service as of 9 a.m.

In a statement, Appalachian Power said the company expects to see additional outages throughout the day as 30 mph wind gusts enter the company’s service area.

Customers can call Dominion at 866-366-4357 to report an outage or downed line or make a report online. The utility urges residents to stay 30 feet away from downed power lines.

Outages can be reported to Appalachian Power online.

NOVEC, which serves parts of Northern Virginia, has not reported widespread outages. Outages may be reported to NOVEC at 703-335-0500, online, or texting “#OUT” to 85700.

Tips During Power Outages

To prepare for power outages, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management recommends:

• Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity.
• Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
• Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out.
• Sign up for local alerts and warning systems. Monitor weather reports.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home.
• Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
• Review the supplies that are available in case of a power outage. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water.
• Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
• Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and gas tanks full.

During a power outage, the state recommends:

• Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer.
• Maintain food supplies that do not require refrigeration.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators, camp stoves, or charcoal grills should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows. Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.
• Check on your neighbors. Older adults and young children are especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
• Go to a community location with power if heat or cold is extreme.
• Turn off or disconnect appliances, equipment, or electronics. Power may return with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can cause damage.
• Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
• If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the drug’s label says otherwise. If a life depends on refrigerated drugs, consult a doctor or pharmacist and use medicine only until a new supply is available.