Dominion Energy Preparations for Winter Weather Threat in Hampton Roads
Dominion Energy is concerned about heavy snow impacting power lines in Hampton Roads. Preparations are underway with crews on standby to handle potential outages, prioritizing critical infrastructure restoration. Local municipalities are taking precautions while state officials have declared a statewide emergency to prevent price gouging on essential goods.
In anticipation of the upcoming winter weather, Dominion Energy has expressed concerns regarding potential impacts on power lines across Hampton Roads. Cherise Newsome, a spokesperson for the utility company, noted that the forecast calls for heavy, wet snow and rain, which can contribute to power outages by causing lines to sag or break under the weight.
Moreover, Dominion Energy has proactively prepared for the storm, with crews and equipment on standby. As of Monday, crews from the eastern region are being deployed to assist areas in central and northern Virginia that may be more severely affected. Newsome emphasized that the utility is taking necessary precautions to minimize service disruptions.
In the event of power outages, Dominion Energy has established a prioritized restoration strategy, focusing first on critical customers such as healthcare facilities and emergency responders. Newsome elaborated that, following the restoration of essential services, crews would proceed to address issues within local communities.
As of Monday afternoon, local cities have reported their preparations, maintaining readiness to respond effectively. Notably, the city of Hampton indicated that pre-treatment of roads was not feasible due to anticipated rain, but services are prepared to utilize sand as necessary. The Virginia Department of Transportation stated that approximately 19,000 pounds of salt and over 150,000 gallons of brine are being applied to maintain safe road conditions.
Furthermore, Virginia’s Governor, Glenn Youngkin, proclaimed a state of emergency as a precautionary measure just prior to the storm. Concurrently, Attorney General Jason Miyares activated the state’s anti-price gouging statute to prevent unjust price hikes on essential goods in light of the emergency declaration.
In summary, the imminent winter weather poses significant risks to power line stability in Hampton Roads, prompting Dominion Energy’s readiness to respond to potential outages. The utility company is prioritizing restoration for critical services and coordinating assistance across affected regions. Local governments are also preparing for adverse conditions, while the state government has declared an emergency to safeguard residents against price gouging during this challenging time.
Original Source: www.wtkr.com
