Power company prepares for outages

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Top managers at Dominion Virginia Power said that Hampton Roads should expect some power outages with Hurricane Earl.

The company has been preparing for days to get ready for the storm, and brought in extra crews from around the state to help restore power quickly to anyone who loses it.

When Hurricane Isabel hit, some people went without electricity for 14 days, and that is the last thing people at Dominion said they want.

"We have overwhelming workforce, got crews at hotels bedded down for the night. There are thousands in this area and hundreds of bucket trucks placed strategically in the area - some in Manteo, Elizabeth City, and Hampton Roads," said Ken Baker from Dominion Virginia Power.

In the Norfolk center, "They handle every call from someone who's lost power, and they map out where crews need to go. In the hurricane room, managers are making sure equipment, tools, and crews are set up and ready to go," said Emory Nadeau.

Nadeau and Baker also said not to worry if you see a power crew drive into your neighborhood, turn around, and drive back out. They said drivers go into neighborhoods to assess the damages so they can map out the best way to get the power back as efficiently as possible.