Tens of thousands of residents across the D.C. region were without power, and crews were working to clear downed trees after a powerful storm ripped through the area overnight.
The cleanup efforts came as more storms threatened to move into the area later Friday.
Before 5 p.m. Friday, Pepco said that based on current conditions, it estimated that power would be restored to 90 percent of customers by 7 p.m. on Sunday.
“We know being without power is difficult, and we appreciate our customers patience as our crews continue working safely to make repairs in their communities,” Pepco wrote on its website, adding that it ”will continue to update the estimated restoration time as work progresses.”
By 5 p.m., Pepco’s website reported that the total number of outages was just under 800, at 791, with over 26,000 customers affected, a decrease from 31,000 customers earlier in the day. Dominion Energy, located in Richmond, reported that more than 16,000 customers were without power, including just under 5,000 customers in Fairfax County.
Prince George’s County Public Schools closed schools because a large number of schools and offices were without power, and it said downed trees and power lines were impacting cleanup efforts.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said that his team had been in contact with local leaders across the state to ensure counties have the support needed to get power restored.
In D.C., officials were also responding to calls about downed wires and trees after the storm.
The District’s Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department warned residents to assume that all downed lines are live and to not try to move downed power lines.
D.C. Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) posted on social media that he saw “a LOT of downed trees & damage,” including a tree that came down on Fifth and F streets NE, crushing a car, and blocking roads and sidewalks.
Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said the District received over 1,100 requests for tree removals and that she expected it to be a multiday cleanup effort. Bowser also advised residents to drive carefully, as some traffic signals were out.
In a Friday email, Bowser warned residents to continue to be cautious around hanging tree limbs. In addition, Bowser said that if the storm damaged a resident’s home, the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking Storm Recovery Center can guide them through insurance options and filing a claim.
City agencies advised residents to place fallen branches and debris from their property or vehicle at a trash collection point — not in roads, bike lanes or sidewalks.
Metrorail warned customers to expect delays in both directions on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines. Damage was reported at some rail stations, including a piece of fallen concrete on a rail just outside Stadium-Armory and an obstruction blocking part of a track at Franconia-Springfield.
The National Weather Service for Baltimore/Washington said more scattered thunderstorms were likely on Friday evening as a strong cold front moves through the region.
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