Power restored to thousands after storm; cleanup begins

Less than 150 power customers in southeast Virginia remained without power as of 2:45 p.m. Thursday after storms ripped through the area, toppling trees and knocking down power lines Wednesday night.  

Norfolk police reported a tree down on a house in the 500 block of Draper Drive. No was injured, police said. Downed trees across Hampton Roads are being removed today.

Power has been restored to thousands after the storm. About 14,500 Dominion Virginia Power customers in southeast Virginia were without power as 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Dominion Web site. This morning, a little more than 1,200 Dominion customers were without power in northeast North Carolina.

Galen Olmstead and his wife Betty were forced to get a hotel after a tree fell and broke through the roof of their house on Enchanting Circle in a subdivision off North Landing Road in Virginia Beach.

Neighbors called Olmstead about 7 p.m. Wednesday to tell him about the damage. The house is only two years old, and Olmstead said he thinks the damage might exceed $50,000.

“We’re waiting for it to be sealed off because there’s a gigantic hole in there,” he said. “It’s about two-thirds of the house.”

An insurance adjustor will examine the damage Friday morning, he said.

At about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday the National Weather Service warned of high winds associated with a line of thunderstorms moving through Hampton Roads and northeast North Carolina.

The storms brought wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour as well as small hail and heavy rainfall, according to the weather service.  

A small craft advisory and gale warning were issued this morning by the National Weather Service. Today is expected to be mostly sunny with a high of about 53 and a low tonight of about 30.

Friday will be sunny with a high in the mid-40s and a low of 32. Saturday will bring another chance of showers with a high in the 50s.

If you have reports of weather damage, call The Virginian-Pilot at (757) 446-2319.