"Derecho" Storm Recovery Updates & Information

The City of Alexandria continues to recover from the June 29 severe storms, monitor storm recovery efforts, and respond to public health and safety concerns. Dominion Virginia Power reports that as of 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 5, only 876 customers are without power in Alexandria and significant progress is being made in restoring power throughout the City.

Residents who are still without power should call Dominion at 1.866.366.4357. According to Dominion, residents who are given a restoration date of today will have their power restored today; residents who are not given a restoration time of today will be scheduled for restoration tomorrow.

• City Government & Facilities
• Power Restoration Frequently Asked Questions 
• Excessive Heat & Cooling Centers / Verizon Mobile Unit Provides FREE Internet/Phone Access 
• Food Safety During Power Outages 
• Debris Removal & Solid Waste Collection 
• Phone Numbers 
• Traffic Signals & Street Closures 
• Recreation Programs 
• Emergency Declarations 
• Emergency Preparedness Information 

City Government & Facilities

• All City facilities are operating under normal business hours.
• Employees who are addressing problems from storm-related damage may take unscheduled leave; however, all essential employees are expected to report to work on time.
• There are no Alexandria City Public Schools programs in session this week.  Other programs using school facilities have been notified of facility status.

Power Restoration Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t my power restored?
Dominion sets the priorities for restoration.  However, in the interest of protecting Alexandria’s most vulnerable populations, the City initially recommended Dominion prioritize certain facilities such as hospitals, public safety stations, and nursing homes.  The City is in contact with Dominion in person, by phone, and electronically throughout the day, but has no further information about power restoration other than what Dominion provides to the public. For inquiries about power outages and restoration, or to report an outage, downed power line, or tree in a power line, contact Dominion at 866.366.HELP (866.366.4357). A frequently updated power outage map can be found on Dominion’s Web site (www.dom.com).

My power has been out since Friday evening.  When will it be restored?
Dominion Virginia Power has informed the City that 85% of its customers should have their power restored by Tuesday evening, and 90-95% of its customers should have power restored by Thursday evening, and virtually all remaining customers by Saturday night. However, for some customers, who are in areas of the most severe damage, service may not be fully restored until Sunday.  Dominion is bringing in additional crews, and is working around the clock to restore power.

Power has been restored to homes close to us, but our power is still out! Plus, there are a lot of elderly people in my neighborhood. Who can I talk to in City government to get our power restored?
Residents are asked to check on neighbors who may need assistance.  If you or your neighbors need a place escape the heat, the City is offering recreation centers, libraries, and pools as cooling centers (see below). If one of your neighbors is in medical distress, please call 9-1-1.  In the meantime, residents are asked to remain patient and to to understand that Dominion Virginia Power sets the priorities for restoration and is working to restore power. 

Excessive Heat & Cooling Centers

• National Weather Service Forecasts and Alerts 

The National Weather Service predicts that daily high temperatures this week will exceed 90 degrees, and may feel even hotter due to high humidity.  If you haven't already, take a look at our tips on How to Beat the Summer Heat!

City facilities are available as cooling centers for those in need.  Please check for your closest recreation center, library, or pool, but note the locations above that are still without power.

Verizon Mobile Trailer to Provide Internet, Telephone Services to Residents
Verizon will provide free Internet and international telephone service to Alexandria residents experiencing extended power, telephone and Internet outages as a result of the June 29 severe storms. These services will be provided in an air-conditioned mobile unit that is parked behind Chinquapin Recreation Center (near the tennis courts), 3210 King St., for the following days

• Thursday, July 5, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, July 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Residents can use public transit to get to Chinquapin Recreation Center by riding the AT5 or AT6 DASH bus routes. These services are being provided by Verizon as a courtesy to City residents so those without power, telephone or Internet services may escape the heat, charge their devices, make telephone calls, and connect to the Internet.

Food Safety

If the power goes out, it is important to take careful precautions to ensure food safety. The City offers tips for Food Safety after the Power Goes Out.

Debris Removal & Solid Waste Collection

Residents who have not had storm debris picked up during the week of July 2 should report the missed collection through our website or call Solid Waste at 703.746.4410. After July 5, debris or brush will be picked up as part of normal weekly trash removal. Items should be no larger than 2 to 3 inches in diameter, 4 feet in length, bundled, and weigh no more than 75 pounds per bundle. Professional tree removal contractors should remove all debris from their worksites.

Phone Numbers

• In an emergency, call 9-1-1.  Please do not call 9-1-1 to report a power outage or for any non-emergency purpose.
• To report a power outage, a downed power line, or a tree in a power line, call Dominion Virginia Power at 866.366.HELP (866.366.4357).
• To report a downed tree or damage to a home or business with no power line involved, call 703.746.4488 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• For heat-related questions and general questions about City services, call 703.746.4800 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Traffic Signals & Street Closures

Some neighborhood streets remain blocked due to downed trees or power lines.  Some traffic signals remain without power.  Please use caution and stay alert while driving, and treat any intersection with dark traffic signals as a four-way stop.

Recreation Programs

All City recreation programs are operating as scheduled. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/Recreation.

Emergency Declarations

The City of Alexandria has declared a local emergency in response to Friday night’s severe storms, due to widespread power outages and excessive heat.  This declaration provides for increased coordination with state resources, permitting the City to take necessary actions to respond to the storms and heat. 

Governor Robert F. McDonnell  declared a State of Emergency for Virginia Saturday morning, after Friday night's storms killed six and knocked out power to millions of customers statewide.

Emergency Preparedness 

This page is dedicated to providing updates on a current weather emergency, such as a winter storm, hurricane, flood, or other weather event. To learn about preparedness for any emergency, visit http://alexandriava.gov/Emergency.