Severe storms cause power outages, damage across D.C. metro area
WASHINGTON (WJLA/AP) - Many people across the D.C. metro area are waking up without power this morning after strong storms pushed through the region around midnight.
Severe storms brought down trees and power lines throughout the mid-Atlantic region, affecting some roads and rail service.
Transportation agencies around the region reported some roads closed Wednesday morning by downed trees and wires and flooding. Amtrak is warning that service between Washington and Philadelphia is delayed. Maryland's MARC and Virginia's VRE commuter rail services are reporting delays too.
A Girl Scout campout on the White House South Lawn was moved indoors as the storm moved in.
According to Stormwatch 7 meteorologist Eileen Whelan, the highest wind gust recorded via WeatherBug network was 74 mph in Seat Pleasant, Maryland.
Power companies are reporting outages, including a peak of 28,000 customers without power in Maryland. That number fell to about 13,000 by daybreak, with more than half in Prince George's County. In Washington, about 4,000 customers are in the dark. Nearly 7,000 customers are without power in northern Virginia.
The lightning, rain and wind caused a variety of storm-related issues, including a gravel slide in Alexandria that blocked the Eisenhower Avenue Connector between I-495 and Clermont Avenue and left more than 19,000 customers without power early Wednesday morning.
As of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday., the power outage numbers for the D.C. metro area are:
| BGE | 3,840 |
| Pepco | 11,792 |
| Dominion (Northern Virginia) |
6,862 |
| SMECO | 176 |
| NOVEC | 37 |
| Potomac Edison (Md. only) |
70 |
| Rappahannock | 51 |
If your power goes out, you can report the outage to your power company by calling these numbers:
| BGE | 1-877-778-2222 |
| Pepco | 1-877-737-2662 |
| Dominion | 1-866-DOM-HELP |
| SMECO | 1-877-747-6326 |
| NOVEC | 1-888-335-0500 |
| Potomac Edison |
1-888-544-4877 |
| Rappahannock |
1-800-552-3904 |
Here's a quick rundown of active storm-related issues as reported by local police, MDOT, VDOT and DDOT.
D.C.:
Tree down, blocks 200 block of Independence Ave Sw
Tree down, blocks southbound lane of 1900 4th St NW
Tree down, blocks 2332 24th St SE
Tree down, 1457 Swan St NW
Tree and wires down, blocks 3609 Albemarle St NW
Traffic lights out, Good Hope Rd and Woodmont Pl SE
Power outage, blocks Alabama Ave Se between 10th Pl and 12th St SE
Wires down, blocks Fox Hall Rd and Cathedral Ave NW
High standing water, blocks South Capitol St and Malcolm X Ave
Tree down, blocks a southbound lane of 2800 block of Wisconsin Ave NW
Virginia - Arlington:
Tree down on a car, 2400 S. Lowell St
Tree down, Washington Blvd and 2nd St S
Tree down, 1400 Columbia Pike
Virginia - Fairfax:
High standing water, blocks Braddock Rd at Landess St
Maryland - Montgomery County:
Storm debris, River Rd at Wilson Ln
Wires down, blocks Piney Branch Rd at University Blvd
Storm debris, Clopper Rd at Mateny Rd
Maryland - Prince George's County:
Tree down, blocks 7408 Edmonston Rd
High standing water, blocks right lane of U.S. 50 westbound after MD-197
Wires down, Columbia Park Rd & Virginia Ave
Tree down, blocks MD-197 at Lyle Ln
