Severe Weather - Update - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

Severe Weather - Update

Update:

ROANOKE, VA -- Governor Bob McDonnell and state leaders say there is a significant risk of additional storms for Sunday, which could lead to additional power outages.

During an afternoon conference call with reporters, Gov. McDonnell says the storm system overnight Friday into Saturday affected virtually the entire Commonwealth.

STORM DEATHS

McDonnell said a 7th storm related death had been confirmed in Montgomery County, saying an emergency responder died Friday night in a traffic accident.  WSLS called both State Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and neither agency said they could confirm the report.  WSLS is working to find out more information.

POWER OUTAGES

7:00 a.m.

Another round of severe weather hit overnight, mainly in the New River Valley and Southside. Many who had power after the weekend storms are now without it this morning. We spoke to Virginia Tech Electric, which covers a large part of Blacksburg. All their crews are back in right now to restore power after a repeat of outages. They're hoping to have power restored by later this morning. However, they're getting a lot of calls about downed power lines and some blown transformers, so expect that to take some time.

Meanwhile, it's still likely going to be several days until most of our region is back up and running. Crews have made and continue to make progress since storms knocked out power Friday night. According to the latest figures from Appalachian Power, more than 192,000 customers are still in the dark. Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Lynchburg, and Bedford County are where the bulk of those outages are. That number has dropped pretty significantly from Saturday morning, when more than 240,000 people were out.

Here's the latest time table for when they hope to have power restored for different areas: APCO says Floyd County should be back online by Tuesday night. Then Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski Counties by Wednesday night, and portions of Bedford, Franklin, Henry and Pittsylvania counties by Thursday, and everyone else by Saturday night.

Dominion Power is reporting more than 255,000 customers are still without power this morning. The bulk of those outages, however, are outside our viewing area. That is way down from the more than 1 million customers that lost power during Friday's storms. 1,200 extra crews from 13 states and Canada have arrived to help them. Dominion says it expects to restore power to 80-85% of customers by Tuesday night, 90-95% by Thursday night, then everyone else by Saturday.

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9:28 p.m.

Danville Utilities says only around 70 people are still without power. Nearly half of the remaining outages are in the West Main Street area, including Stewart Street and Westmoreland Court.

Repair crews must still replace three utility poles on West Main Street, as well as poles on West Hampton Avenue, and Gun Garland Court. A storm Saturday night broke the poles, according to the utility.

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8:56 p.m.

Appalachian Power says due to severe thunderstorms from earlier today (Sunday), additional outages happened in the southern parts of the New River Valley.  That has delayed complete power restoration estimates for Carroll County, Grayson County, and Wythe County until Friday night.

Here are the latest outage figures from Appalachian Power's website as of 8:55 p.m.:

  • Amherst Co. - 11,512 (77.9% of total)
  • Bedford Co. - 19,394 (74.7% of total)
  • Bland Co. - 557 (14.5% of total)
  • Botetourt Co. - 6,025 (47.8% of total)
  • Campbell Co. - 12,893 (75% of total)
  • Carroll Co. - 6,065 (33.1% of total)
  • Craig Co. - 1,020 (99.5% of total)
  • Floyd Co. - 1,344 (14.9% of total)
  • Franklin Co. - 9,166 (29.1% of total)
  • Galax - 215 (5.5% of total)
  • Giles Co. - 4,712 (47.8% of total)
  • Grayson Co. - 1,426 (13.6% of total)
  • Henry Co. - 3,013 (10.7% of total)
  • Lynchburg - 25,988 (73.3% of total)
  • Montgomery Co. - 11,098 (29.6% of total)
  • Nelson Co. - 1,607 (68.6% of total)
  • Patrick Co. - 2,567 (21.2% of total)
  • Pittsylvania Co. - 421 (21.2% of total)
  • Pulaski Co. - 4,699 (24.5% of total)
  • Roanoke City - 27,333 (54.7% of total)
  • Roanoke Co. - 18,235 (41.3% of total)
  • Wythe Co. - 8,420 (49.4% of total)

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3:18 p.m.

Appalachian Power has put out estimates of when it hopes repair crews will be able to restore electricity across the Fox 21/27 viewing area.  APCo notes that these estimates can change depending on if new damage is found, or new storms cause additional damage.

TUESDAY NIGHT

Floyd County


WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Bland County
Carroll County
Giles County
Grayson County
Montgomery County
Pulaski County
Wythe County


THURSDAY NIGHT

Parts of:
Bedford County
Franklin County
Henry County
Pittsylvania County


FRIDAY NIGHT

Nelson County
Patrick County


SATURDAY NIGHT

Amherst County
Parts of:
Bedford County
Botetourt County
Campbell County
Craig County
Roanoke County

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3:10 p.m.


According to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, 19 generators have been sent to help Bath County, Botetourt County, Highland County, Rockingham County, and Vinton.

Also, Operation Blessing has sent a refrigerator truck to Highland County.

Gleaning For The World has sent 500 gallons of water to Bath County.

The governor said around 1.5 million people are still without electricity as of Sunday afternoon.  That's down from 2 million on Friday night.

STORM DAMAGE

25 major roads across the Commonwealth are closed, according to the governor.  Most are in the Salem and Lynchburg VDOT regions.  Fox 21/27's Chris Whitley reported earlier Sunday that Lynchburg City crews were waiting for Appalachian Power crews to de-energize power lines with trees that fell on them, before repairs can begin.

200 Virginia National Guard members have been called up, up from 110 Saturday.  The total authorized for assistance is 300 at this point.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) says it has received 32 requests from local assistance, and has completed eleven requests as of Sunday afternoon.  VDEM added that there may be additional storm related deaths, due to the heat.

VDEM emphasized that neighbors should help neighbors in an emergency.

The governor plans the next update at 5:00 p.m. 

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10:57 a.m.

Southside Electric Co-op's outage website shows more than 13,000 customers without power as of 10:57 a.m.

Here are the local areas in SEC's coverage:

  • Appomattox Co. - 172
  • Bedford Co. - 3,189
  • Campbell Co. - 2,092
  • Charlotte Co. - 729
  • Pittsylvania Co. - 231

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10:42 a.m.

Thousands of customers in Roanoke City, Campbell County, and Carroll County have had their electricity restored in the past hour.

However, some places like Lynchburg, Botetourt County, and Craig County have not seen the number of outages change, or they grew worse in the past hour.

Here are the latest outage figures from Appalachian Power's website as of 10:40 a.m.:

  • Amherst Co. - 11,417 (77.3% of total)
  • Bedford Co. - 19,254 (74.2% of total)
  • Bland Co. - 952 - (24.8% of total)
  • Botetourt Co. - 6,069 (48.1% of total)
  • Campbell Co. - 13.360 (77.7% of total)
  • Carroll Co. - 5,499 (30% of total)
  • Craig Co. - 1,020 (99.5% of total)
  • Floyd Co. - 2,854 (31.6% of total)
  • Franklin Co. - 11,554 (36.7% of total)
  • Giles Co. - 3,846 (39% of total)
  • Grayson Co. - 431 (4.1% of total)
  • Henry Co. - 4,961 (17.7% of total)
  • Lynchburg - 27,635 (78% of total)
  • Montgomery Co. - 13,838 (36.9% of total)
  • Nelson Co. - 1,865 (79.6% of total)
  • Patrick Co. - 4.294 (35.4% of total)
  • Pittsylvania Co. - 723 (36.3% of total)
  • Pulaski Co. - 5,794 (30.2% of total)
  • Roanoke City - 27,573 (55.1% of total)
  • Roanoke Co. - 19,954 (45.2% of total)
  • Wythe Co. - 5,537 (32.5% of total)


Total for WFXR viewing area: 188,484

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9:35 a.m.

The power outage situation is improving across Southwest and Central Virginia.

As of this morning, Appalachian Power says 244,000 customers are still without electricity, but repair crews have made progress since Saturday night.

Here are the latest outage figures from Appalachian Power's website as of 9:32 a.m.:

  • Amherst Co. - 11,453 (77.5% of total)
  • Bedford Co. - 19,159 (73.8% of total)
  • Bland Co. - 952 - (24.8% of total)
  • Botetourt Co. - 5,860 (46.5% of total)
  • Campbell Co. - 13.364 (77.7% of total)
  • Carroll Co. - 7,896 (43.1% of total)
  • Craig Co. - 1,020 (99.5% of total)
  • Floyd Co. - 2,917 (32.3% of total)
  • Franklin Co. - 11,550 (36.7% of total)
  • Giles Co. - 3,740 (37.9% of total)
  • Grayson Co. - 434 (4.1% of total)
  • Henry Co. - 7.171 (25.5% of total)
  • Lynchburg - 27,635 (78% of total)
  • Montgomery Co. - 14,934 (39.9% of total)
  • Nelson Co. - 1,865 (79.6% of total)
  • Patrick Co. - 4.284 (35.3% of total)
  • Pittsylvania Co. - 725 (36.5% of total)
  • Pulaski Co. - 5,824 (30.4% of total)
  • Roanoke City - 29,076 (58.1% of total)
  • Roanoke Co. - 20,448 (46.3% of total)
  • Wythe Co. - 5,530 (32.4% of total)

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Saturday:

Roanoke was pounded by a severe thunderstorm with excessive straight-line winds exceeding 80 miles per hour. AEP is reporting 300,000 customers without power.

At this time, Fox 21/27 is still on the air.

AEP has been unable to provide us with an estimated time on when our power will be restored. The storm was severe, and with over 300,000 customers in the dark, be prepared to deal with a long outage. 

Cox Cable is out, but FOX21/27 is still available over-the-air and on Dish and DirecTV. WWCW is operating normally. 

We will work to keep you updated. With possible incoming severe weather, conditions may continue to change.