A coastal storm moving into Hampton Roads could knock out power in some of Virginia's most exposed communities — and not just because of wind and rain.
Here's what to know
In addition to normal storm elements, salty sea mist can build up on power lines and trigger dangerous equipment failures. Dominion Energy says it has positioned workers and equipment to prepare for the storm, WAVY reported.
Jason Winslow, operations and construction manager, said, "We're monitoring the weather closely with our weather team here at Dominion Energy. We've been looking at it a couple of days," per WAVY.
Because ocean conditions can worsen storm effects, the utility is concentrating crews in areas including the Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and the Peninsula.
Winslow said Dominion plans to keep crews on hand around the clock so response times can be as fast as possible if outages happen.
More background
Salt contamination is among the utility's top concerns, particularly when coastal storms move through.
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According to Winslow, "The salt contamination, when it comes in from kind of the misty rain and air off the sea, that kind of builds on our lines and that can be very conductive. It creates pole fires, some of our cross arms catching on fire, which leads to wire burning down and things like that."
What's being done?
The company said it's been strengthening preparation efforts for years.
"We've worked really hard as a company on hardening our grid over the past several years so when we get weather events like this, due to some of the bigger poles that we are now utilizing, and some of the fiberglass arms, the different types of material, that helps us withstand weather conditions when we get in situations like this," Winslow said.
Winslow also said a steady downpour can rinse salt from the lines, which may lower part of the contamination risk.
He advised, "Anytime you approach any kind of downed wire or anything like that, please stay away, keep your distance. Call and report it, call 911."
Call 1-866-DOM-HELP to report any outages. Report and track outages on the Dominion Energy website and app. You can also follow updates on their X account.
Where can I learn more?
Coastal outages are part of a much broader problem when severe weather hits the grid. These stories cover prolonged outages, grid safety risks, and backup power options from community microgrids to home batteries.
• Across the United States, extreme weather drives prolonged outages hardest in socially vulnerable communities.
• Across America, aging power grids struggle to keep households safe through longer storm seasons.
• In Florida, a solar microgrid kept one community running when heavy storms knocked out service.
• In Texas, homeowners turn to microgrids for relief as intensifying storms threaten repeated outages.
• On one blackout-hit street, solar and battery backup kept a family's lights on.
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