Update 10 p.m.: 212,000 Still Without Power Sunday
Residents should leave extra time for their morning commute. Power companies are continuing to work toward full restoration in the aftermath of Friday night's storm.
Photos
Update 10 p.m.
Local government officials are advising residents to allow extra time to get to work Monday morning — many traffic signals throughout Northern Virginia are still dark, which may cause confusion and unusual congestion. (Residents are reminded to treat four-way intersections without working traffic lights as a four-way stop.)
VRE and Metro trains are expected to run on time Monday morning. Metro buses and other bus services may experience traffic delays or operate on slight detours due to downed power lines and trees.
Friday night's derecho left widespread wind and rain damage across several states. Dominion Virginia Power has called in crews from as far away as Texas to help in restoring power to hundreds of thousands of customers.
At 9:40 p.m., 212,582 Dominion customers in Northern Virginia were still without electricity and air conditioning.
Late Sunday afternoon, Dominion Virginia Power officials said they expected 80 to 85 percent restoration by the end of Tuesday, and 90 to 95 percent restoration by the end of Thursday. The last customers may not get power back until the weekend.
An update on crew work locations for Monday will be available here around 10 a.m.
Monday's temperature will be in the low to mid-90s under mostly sunny skies.
Update 4 p.m.
As of 3:38 p.m. Sunday, the most recent figures from Dominion Power show that 248,056 of its customers in Northern Virginia are still without power, after a surprise derecho hit the area Friday night. The company told Patch Sunday that it could be a week before 100 percent power is restored.
At 4:19 p.m., via Twitter (@DomVaPower), Dominion Power reported they expect 80 to 85 percent of customers to have power restored by Tuesday night, and 90 to 95 percent restored by Thursday night.
Most recent outage figures by locality, of Dominion Power customers, show:
- Alexandria: 23,758
- Arlington: 37,359
- Fairfax City: 3,451
- Fairfax County: 127,058
- Falls Church: 4,781
- Loudoun County: 25,069
- Prince William County: 7,988
View Dominion Power work locations here.
NOVEC customers in Prince William County are faring a bit better.
If you purchased a generator this weekend for your home, please read these tips on how to operate a generator safely.
Fairfax County's emergency information blog has a list of cooling centers some open until 8 p.m. Sunday.
Verizon is working with a number of technical challenges in the wake of the storm. One of the biggest challenges has been a power failure at one of the Verizon facilities in Arlington, which has made it more difficult for some callers to dial 911 in Prince William and Fairfax Counties.
Still, people are finding ways to cope: Down in Fredericksburg, business owners are getting creative about how to stay open despite not having electricity. And in Reston, hotels and pools are crowded.
No word yet on whether federal employees will report to work on Monday.
In Falls Church, some residents are being told by Falls Church water to continue to boil their water.
Update 1 p.m.
Some Northern Virginians are breathing a sigh of relief after getting their power restored today but there are still 264,468 Dominion Power customers without power in the area as of 12:48 p.m., the most recent figures available from the company.
The temperature was 95 degrees at Reagan National at 11:52 a.m., the most recent information available from the National Weather Service. The Weather Channel reports a heat index (what it feels like) of 100 degrees.
Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity has opened a temporary unofficial cooling center in his office at 6140 Rolling Road in Springfield, next door to the post office. He promises water, board games and TV.
Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road, is open from 1 to 5 p.m.
Latest figures available for Dominion Power customers without power:
- Alexandria: 24,059
- Arlington: 39,249
- Fairfax County: 130,617
- Fairfax City: 3,428
- Falls Church: 4,835
- Loudoun County: 25,057
- Prince William County: 9,913
Update 10 a.m.
Dominion Virginia Power has released a list of crew locations where staff are working to restore power in Virginia. You can see the full list here to find out if your neighborhood (or general area) is on the list.
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Dominion Virginia Power has made substantial progress in restoring power to customers, but more than 290,000 who went to bed hoping and praying the power would be back on this morning woke up disappointed.
The power company is working on restoration estimates but still say it could be several days before all customers have electricity again.
As of Saturday night around 10 p.m., more than 345,000 people were without power – down from more than 460,000 in Northern Virginia right after the storm hit Friday night. More than 50,000 people had their power turned back on overnight.
Because of the widespread nature of this storm, utility crews from as far away as Texas are enroute to the mid-Atlantic. Gov. Bob McDonnell said Saturday this is the biggest non-hurricane power outage in the state's history. Gov. McDonnell has declared a state of emergency in Virginia.
As of 6:30 a.m.:
- Arlington: 45,293
- Alexandria City: 22,644
- Fairfax County: 145,583
- Fairfax City: Over 2,000 (Updated: 9:15 a.m.)
- Loudoun County: 27,015
- Prince William County: 11,383
Dark Traffic Signals
Drivers are reminded that if they come to an intersection where all traffic signals are dark, they should treat that intersection as a four-way stop to avoid accidents. WTOP reports police are out enforcing this law.
Boil Water Advisory Near Falls Church
The following message came from the Falls Church Water Utility: “Out of an abundance of caution, the Falls Church Water Utility advises water customers in portions of Tysons Corner, Vienna, Dunn Loring and Merrifield to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. Customers are advised not to drink tap water without boiling it first. Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness.” More information and boiling instructions are available here.
Today’s Weather
High temperatures will be sticking around today – temperatures will hit the upper 90s today with mostly sunny skies. As of 6 a.m., there were no excessive heat warnings or watches across the area (and none planned to go into effect), but residents should still take precautions against the heat. People who are sick, very young or very old are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
Nationwide, the heat wave and Friday's storm have been blamed for at least 13 deaths. There have been six reported deaths in Virginia, primarily from trees falling on homes or cars during the derecho storm Friday night.
What is a derecho? A derecho is a straight-line wind storm. Learn more here.
Heat Tips
- If you don’t have air conditioning, go somewhere that has it. If you have to, try to stay on the lowest floor of a building and stay out of the sun.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated—a key component to keeping yourself cool.
- Dress in light colored, lightweight clothes.
- Try to spend the hottest part of the day in an air-conditioned location, such as your local library, movie theater or mall.
- Check on your elderly neighbors, who are more susceptible to heat-related health problems.
- Even with shade and water, it’s just too hot for your animals to be outside.
- Double Dog Dare blogger Ariel Leath has some information on how to help your dogs in the hot weather.
Food Safety: If you've been without power since Friday night's storm, it's probably too late to save that food in your fridge and most food in your freezer. Learn more about food safety during power outages, including what's safe and what's not here.
911 Systems
Many residents are still having difficulty with cellular and Internet service, but the 911 service is reportedly back up and running in Fairfax County. In other areas, the service is working most of the time. Click here for links to find closest police and fire stations to your home.
Damage Photo Galleries
Photo galleries from Patch editors and our readers, of damage around Northern Virginia:
- In Old Town Alexandria
- In Annandale
- In Belle Haven
- In Burke, Springfield
- In Clarendon
- In Del Ray
- In Falls Church
- In Fort Hunt
- In Leesburg
- In Herndon
- In Reston
- In Fairfax Station and Clifton
Adrienne
6:57 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
It would be nice if people could identify restaurants that are open. Yesterday morning, we found the Silver Diner at Tyson's doing a brisk business.
Carolyn
8:16 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Maple Avenue Restaurant in Vienna (near the intersection of Rt. 123 & Lawyers Rd.) has been open.
Erin Gibson
12:30 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Flippin' Pizza at South Lakes Shopping Center is OPEN!! Phone lines are down but walk-ins are welcome
Erin Gibson
6:20 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Flippin' Pizza in Pincrest shopping center is open
Beth Lawton
7:03 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
We've found a lot of Starbucks are open this morning -- and crowded already.
Cliff
7:08 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
It appeared all restaurants in Vienna were open, but many were only accepting cash due to phone lines being down...can't authorize credit cards. They were all very busy at 8.
SCJ
7:45 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Glory Days in Pan Am had power and phone last night.
Chipperson
8:17 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Any update on power near glade and colts neck? I abandoned my house yesterday.
C Baker
8:21 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I need to find a gas station with power in/near Vienna. Know of any?
Carolyn
8:25 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
The station at Center & 123 (opposite the Starbucks and the library) was open yesterday.
Carolyn
8:26 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Can anyone clarify which boundary of Vienna is applicable to the 'boil water' advisory? Is it over near OLGC, or is it the western edge of the town? Thanks.
Heather Barber
11:32 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
The official advisory says western boundary is along the Town of Vienna line and southern boundary is 66/495 intersection...if you live within the town limits, I'd follow the advisory.
Jan Speakman
8:40 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
My pet hate in storms - radio stations that say "if you want more information about power outages in your area go to www. ...." And how would you do that without power? Grr
Daley b
3:43 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Same way u are posting this comment....cell data
Mara H
9:20 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
The Exxon in oakton on 123 by 123 & hunter mill by Santinis had gas on Saturday night.
Ian
9:27 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
How the power been restored yet in Oakton?
Ian
10:26 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
how about oakton
Nicole Trifone
1:00 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hi Ian, Depends on where you are in Oakton. I'd suggest looking at the interactive map so you can put in your own address: http://outagemap.dom.com/DomComFlexOutageViewer/index.html
Jim York
9:40 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Jan, millions of people with smartphones such as the iPhone have easy access to browsing websites for information even when the power is out. In fact that also provides my Internet access to laptops via "hot spot" feature overcoming the lack of traditional Internet access that even our generator can't overcome!
Lara S
10:06 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Anyone know if power has been restored in the broyhill creat area of Annandale? I left town to stay with my folks in Montgomery County because hey have power and I don't want to go home until I know there is power
Sherell Williams
10:21 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hi Lara, based on the current Dominion outage map, it looks like that area may still be without power. I'm working on trying to get an estimate from Dominion on restoration progress in Annandale. You can check annandale.patch.com for more local updates. - Sherell, Annandale LE.
L Kane
10:26 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Kalypsos at lake Anne in Reston has power and opens at 11am today. They are having a regae on the lake party with a DJ starting at 4pm!
Lara S
10:33 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Thanks Sherell
bryan moore
10:56 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Power back in del ray yet?
Janet
10:59 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
At least 20 Arlington residents with pre-existing medical conditions have died since Friday evening from remaining in their overheated homes. Hundreds more have been taken to hospitals.
Beth
11:46 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I've read and heard 3 to 6 heat-related deaths in all of Virginia. Even one is tragic, but 20 in just Arlington? If you heard/read it on the news, I think it's easy for reporters get some facts wrong with all the scrambling to provide up-to-date info.
There was an article recently about a big mistake one news bureau made that lots of print and on-line pubications picked up the story and ran with it. Not uncommon.
Adrienne
11:08 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Janet, that is tragic. Sad. This morning, Heidelberg bakery in Arlington on Lee Highway was open. The Sunoco station near Lee and Harrison was open too. The line was two blocks long. The McDonald's near Westover in Arl is open. Nothing in Falls Church. No power in Franklin Park. No power off Great Falls Street in McLean and FC addresses.
Kim
11:34 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Just came back from trying to get to church in Herndon. Hunter Mill closed at Hunter Station. Traffic lights out on Lawyers north of Hunter Mill. I turned around when light at Reston Parkway was out, too. But others made it to church and tell me power was on there in Herndon.
Allie
11:39 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
VIPs in the Arlington County Manager's office are making up strategy as the mess continues. Local NOAA National Weather Service 162-Megahertz stations are off the air. Information on Arlington's 1700-kilohertz AM station has not been updated in 24 hours. I am hearing from the NOAA Weather Service station in Richmond that weak cold fronts are going to cross the region this week, meaning more violent storms?
Bob Bruhns
12:00 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Has anyone ever found useful emergency infomation on those stations up above 1600 on the AM dial? My experience has always been as Allie described. A big storm in May, power out... and the station had information about a snowstorm in February. We had one in Herndon that sat there doing essentially nothing but identifying, with bad frequency and bad callsign information, for years. Occasionally it was a PA system for the building it was in. ("There will be a drill...") Public service? Not really. A lot of these stations went off the air years ago, I guess that's why.
Kristen Sobera Heflin
11:52 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Anyone know of power in Oakton va yet?
Nicole Trifone
12:58 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hi Kristen, Some people in Oakton do, some don't. I'd suggest looking for your home on Dominion Va. Power's interactive outage map: http://outagemap.dom.com/DomComFlexOutageViewer/index.html
Tara Miller
11:58 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
If we get water from Town of Vienna, and not Falls Church, does that mean we don't have to boil water?
Carolyn
12:39 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
The town of Vienna gets its water from Falls Church -- I'd recommend boiling or drinking bottled water until there's an all-clear.
Andre L. Taylor
5:27 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hello Tara: Falls Church Water has extended their Boil Water Advisory through Monday night. I'd follow that until they say you don't have to. Here's the story with all the details. http://patch.com/A-vFyf
TJ Jackson
11:59 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Looking for an update on Ravensworth Towers in Annandale. Any power yet?
Thar
12:19 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Anyone know if the power in the Pinecrest area of Annandale has been restored yet? Little River Tpke at Braddock Rd.
Linda Seaton
12:25 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Prince William County stores, restaurants, and gas astations are open - no lines!
Adrienne
12:31 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Tara, no. Not yet. Falls Church water had low pressure, and they are worried about bacteria taking hold in the pipes.
Iyana
12:40 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Anyone know if Lohemann's Plaza area in Falls Church has power?
Andre L. Taylor
5:35 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hi Iyana, I live in that area and as of 3:30 p.m., I didn't have power at my place and the Giant in the plaza is still having phone troubles. I'm working from an area with power now but as I find out things, I will post them about outages in Falls Church. :)
Iyana
8:29 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Thanks! Please keep updating as you can.
Diane D
12:47 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
looking for power outage update for whipple court, annandale, va
Maureen Williams
12:52 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Can I get from baron cameron to hunter mill to 123?
Nicole Trifone
12:57 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hi Maureen, There are lots of small clusters along Hunter Mill Road and Baron Cameron Avenue that don't have power. You might want to put in your address in the interactive map to get a better idea: http://outagemap.dom.com/DomComFlexOutageViewer/index.html
Kim
1:56 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hunter Mill was closed this morning (9:30 am) by Hunter Station, so the way you want to go is not going to work.
Susan Larson
12:59 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
As of noon Sunday, Old Colchester Road between Rt. 1 Richmond Highway and Gunston Road in Lorton is open. That section of the road had been closed.
Susan Larson
1:02 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
All of the stores in the Kingstowne Towne Center, including Regal Kingstowne Stadium 16 movie theatre, are open. Some are only accepting cash.
Stephanie Crossley
1:12 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Is the power back on at Marquis at Vienna Station apartments by the Vienna metro?
Beth
1:50 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Dulles Town Center stayed open all night Saturday as a shelter, place to charge cell phones. Pets welcome in carriers. Not sure of the status today (Sunday).
http://www.shopdullestowncenter.com/news/yes-we-are-open-click-here-for-details/2129979127
Jason
1:59 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Would've been nice if Tysons had done the same as Dulles. I guess too busy planning on opening at midnight on black Friday
Leah Cabral
2:33 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Any news for Sterling, VA - when will power be restored drive around 4 miles around didnt see any crews working
SG
3:33 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
anyone know if Veinna Beulah rd / clarks crossing has power? I can't tell from the Dominion map...
Beth Lawton
4:33 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
They were powerless as of about 90 minutes ago...
Marcus
4:08 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Anyone know if Oakton High School has power? The Dominion Power interactive map isn't clear on that area...
Mary Ann Barton
5:21 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
FCPS put out a release yesterday canceling all indoor activities at the schools for Sunday.
Jeff De-Cagna
4:24 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Anyone have information on what's happening in Reston?
Beth Lawton
4:32 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Reston Patch -- http://reston.patch.com has lots of information up now.
Beth Lawton
4:32 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hi everyone! We've just posted an update to the story with new power outage numbers and more information. Keep the comments and questions coming -- thanks!
Beth Lawton
Senior Regional Editor, Northern Virginia
Bert Katz
4:34 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Folks, I just want to make people aware that there is a senior citizen building which also houses disabled seniors (who do not have access to transport or anywhere to go) - Lake Anne Fellowship House - right across from Lake Anne Plaza that still has no power and the management for the building is nowhere to be found. They have basicallybeen invisible and are not doing anything to help. We're trying to get in touch with the American Red Cross to see if they can provide any water or help. If anyone is available to bring food, water, ice there, it would be very much appreciated.
Location is 11450 North Shore Drive, Reston 20190. Robert Farell, here is something we can agree both with.
Karen Goff
4:37 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Bert - Thanks! We just stopped by there. Indeed, the residents could use our help. Info here: http://patch.com/A-vFMp
Sonia Tejada
4:47 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
California Tortilla at Oakton Shopping Center where Giant is at. Credit/debit cards are being taken. Townhouses in front of Santini's and Oakton ES has power on; not the townhouses behind though.
Nicole Trifone
4:57 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Thanks for the update, Sonia! Also, both gas stations in Oakton (on Chain Bridge Road and next to Giant) are open. In fact, looked to me like most of the businesses were up and running in that area.
Chris
6:04 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Hey Beth, thanks for the updates. I want to echo Stephanie's question from earlier about the power status of Marquis at Vienna Station (just north of Vienna metro and sharing a building with the Acadia complex). I'm trying to decide whether to drive the hour north to check or just commute from my parents' house in PW County. Thanks again!
Kim
6:13 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Does anyone know about the people in the Hunter Woods Fellowship House in Reston? I don't know if they have a generator and it's a high rise building with many elderly, infirm people. I have tried calling and can't get through.
Kim
7:35 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Just talked to someone with a family member there - they have a generator, so residents have AC.
Janet
7:52 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Step 1 - Move parents, senior relatives, out of homes, apartments, condos w/o functioning air conditioning.
Step 2 - Bring in the National Guard to help Arl. County clean up the storm mess.
Tell_me
8:08 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Why the h@ll is E. Alexandria, E. Luray, E. Glendale, and E. Nelson still without power 48 hours later? Is Euille without power?
John King
8:22 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Crews working the lines in Georgetown Pike between the Beltway and Swinks Mill. Still no activity on Spring Hill Road at Spring Hill Lane.
Chris
8:39 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Marquis at Vienna Station and Acadia now have power (two condo complexes just north of the Vienna Metro station). According to my alarm clock, which resets to 12:00 after coming back to life, power was restored around 4 PM today--meaning it was out here for about 42 hours. Good luck to the rest of you still w/out power.
Leslie Perales Loges
9:01 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Dulles Town Center Mall is serving as a cooling shelter again tonight. Pets are welcome as long as they're in a crate/carrier.
More info here:
http://www.facebook.com/DullesTownCenter/posts/496282793722028