SUFFOLK, Va. – May 17, 2025 — More than 1,400 residents in Suffolk, Virginia, remain without power following severe thunderstorms that struck southern Virginia and parts of North Carolina on Friday evening, highlighting the region’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events and their impact on local energy infrastructure from Dominion Energy.
According to Dominion Energy, 1,462 out of 43,469 customers in Suffolk were still without electricity as of Saturday morning. The outages followed a fast-moving system of storms that prompted the National Weather Service to issue severe thunderstorm warnings for multiple counties until 8:30 p.m. Friday night.
The storms brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning, causing extensive damage to utility lines and transformers. Suffolk Fire & Rescue reported 44 emergency calls for transformer fires and downed wires, as well as at least one incident where a large tree limb fell onto a residential structure. Emergency responders were forced to adopt a modified response protocol to manage the surge in calls.
Energy Systems Under Pressure
The incident underscores the pressure on local grid systems during periods of climate volatility. Electrical infrastructure in many parts of the U.S., especially in semi-rural areas like Suffolk, remains exposed to storm-related disruptions. While Dominion Energy crews are currently deployed to restore service, no precise timeline has been issued for full restoration.
“This kind of event is becoming increasingly common, and it stresses the importance of grid modernization and localized energy resilience,” said an independent energy consultant based in Virginia. “We’re seeing the cost of weather-related disruptions rising, not just in dollars, but in public confidence.”
Community Impact and Response
Photos submitted by local residents to WAVY-TV show extensive residential damage, including uprooted trees, blocked roadways, and homes struck by debris. Suffolk’s emergency services continue to coordinate with utility teams to remove hazards and restore access in affected neighborhoods.
Residents are being urged to stay clear of downed power lines and report hazards directly to emergency authorities. For now, backup generators and community support networks are helping to bridge the gap while repairs are underway.
This event follows a series of weather-related power failures across the United States in recent months, prompting renewed calls for investment in hardened energy infrastructure, decentralized energy systems, and faster storm response protocols.