Dominion Energy is warning its customers in Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina to begin preparing for “dangerous conditions and widespread outages” once Hurricane Dorian makes its way north.
Meteorologists are forecasting tropical storm-level winds and rain from the category 1 hurricane, including at least 2-4 inches in some areas, and as much as 6 inches in other areas.
A tropical storm and storm surge watch are still in place for the entire Hampton Roads area.
The storm carries the potential to cause widespread power outages, Dominion warned in a news release.
Customers should be prepared for multiple-day-long outages, Dominion officials said.
Supplies to assemble for a hurricane preparedness kit include:
- Batteries and flashlights/lanterns
- Bottled water (1 gallon per person, per day)
- Cash (power outages could affect ATMs)
- Non-perishable food
- First-aid kit, medications and hygiene items
Residents with generators should ensure their equipment is fully fueled, tested and correctly connected.
While residents prepare for the storm, Dominion is also doing its part to ready its crews and stage materials for the storm.
Once the storm passes and it’s safe, Dominion crews will assess damage and begin restoring power to customers affected by outages.
The first customers to have power restored will be facilities “critical to public health and safety, such as hospitals, fire and police departments, and water treatment systems.” The second priority are residential areas and businesses in need of major repairs.
Last, individual homes and smaller groups of customers will have power restored.
Power outages in Virginia can be reported on the Dominion Outage Center.
When the power goes out, residents should avoid downed powerlines, which can be hidden by fallen trees, branches or flood waters.
Downed lines can be reported in Virginia by calling 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357).
