Storms knock out power, close James River Bridge overnight

Severe thunderstorms that swept through parts of Hampton Roads, the Peninsula and Eastern Shore overnight continued to keep people in the dark this morning.

By 6 a.m., a little more than 2,000 Dominion Virginia Power customers were without electricity, according to the company's Web site. That was down from more than 11,000 customers listed without power in southeastern Virginia at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The storms also knocked down three power cables on the James River Bridge and forced the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to close in both directions because of high winds. 

The James River Bridge had reopened to traffic this morning, but the Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Resources Commission were enforcing a safety zone within 1/2 mile in each direction of the span while power crews made repairs, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Andy Kendrick. The river is closed in that area to recreational and commercial water traffic.

Dominion Virginia Power contacted the Virginia Marine Resources Commission about 10 p.m. to request the help of the Marine Police to close down the river, said John Bull, VMRC spokesman. The Coast Guard established the safety zone about 2 a.m.

Marine police also blocked launch access from a nearby boat ramp and city marina, Bull said. The power lines in the water are not charged, but could cause a hazard to navigation.

Bull said the Marine Police are expecting the closure to last through the day.

David Botkins, a Dominion spokesman, said repair work is expected to continue through the day. No customers are being affected by the transmission lines being in the water. 

No motorists were stuck on the bridge as a result of the downed power lines, said Lauren Hansen, a Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman. While the bridge was closed, traffic was diverted to the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.

Dominion Virginia Power secured the live wires on the bridge so it could be opened to traffic by this morning.

At the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a tractor-trailer overturned Wednesday night on the southbound side in Northampton County, and the driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, according to the facility's police department. The crash closed the southbound lanes, then crews were moving traffic with alternating lane closures. The lanes had reopened by 7 a.m., according to VDOT.  

The National Weather Service received reports that trees were knocked down along with power and telephone lines in Newport News, Hampton and Isle of Wight. A trained spotter also reported a 64 mph wind gust on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. 

In Newport News, a house on 77th Street was hit by lightening, which caused a small kitchen fire, according to Deputy Fire Chief Scott Fuller. The lightening also  severely damaged electrical service to the house, according to a fire department press release.

Another fire on Jarvis Place in Newport News was caused by a candle, according to the release.  One adult was taken to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation.

Both homes were left uninhabitable, the release said.

Virginian-Pilot Staff Writer Cindy Clayton contributed to this report.