Thousands temporarily lost power across West Ghent and nearby neighborhoods
More than 4,000 Dominion Energy customers in Norfolk — concentrated largely in the Ghent neighborhood and adjacent areas — were without power at some point early Friday morning, according to Dominion Energy outage maps and utility updates. Service was restored to the bulk of affected customers before sunrise.
The outage footprint spanned an area from near Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and the Midtown Tunnel corridor, up Colley Avenue and Hampton Boulevard toward West 23rd and West 24th streets in West Ghent. It extended into the North Ghent Historic District and up Colonial Avenue past West 21st Street, and included locations such as Claremont Avenue, Weyanoke Street near the Weyanoke Bird and Wildflower Sanctuary, and Maury High School.
“More than 4,000 Dominion Energy customers in the Ghent area of Norfolk [were] without power,”
At one point during the morning, Dominion's outage map showed more than 4,800 customers without service. By 2:30 a.m., the utility reported the number of customers still affected had dropped to just over 1,300, concentrated in West Ghent. By 3:30 a.m., there were no reported outages in Ghent, according to Dominion Energy.
Impact and immediate response
Dominion had not listed a cause for the outage at the time of the report; the utility said it was investigating. It was not immediately clear whether Sentara Norfolk General Hospital experienced an internal power interruption or was affected by the outage mapped in the surrounding area.
The disruption followed another outage in Norfolk the previous day that affected roughly 1,200 customers in downtown Norfolk. That earlier outage was attributed to an equipment failure and lasted about two hours. Officials warned that some traffic signals could continue to flash or briefly malfunction even after power was restored, urging drivers to treat intersections with flashing or nonworking signals according to traffic laws.
Where outages were concentrated
- West Ghent and North Ghent Historic District
- Colley Avenue, Hampton Boulevard corridors
- Claremont Avenue and Weyanoke Street near the Weyanoke Bird and Wildflower Sanctuary
- Maury High School and nearby residential blocks
Timeline of reported outages
| Time | Customers without power | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early Friday morning | More than 4,000 (peaked near 4,800) | Outage concentrated in Ghent area |
| 2:30 a.m. | About 1,300 | Remaining outages focused in West Ghent |
| 3:30 a.m. | 0 reported | Dominion reported no remaining outages in Ghent |
City and utility officials had not released further details about the cause when Dominion updated its outage map. Dominion indicated it would investigate the event to determine the cause and any necessary repairs.
Local consequences and precautions
Norfolk residents in the affected areas reported interrupted service to businesses and residences during the outage window. The incident served as the second significant outage in under 24 hours for parts of the city, underscoring concerns about the local electrical infrastructure and the need for rapid coordination between utility crews and city services.
Officials recommend that residents take routine outage precautions when service is interrupted: secure any perishable food, limit use of elevators, and report any downed lines or electrical hazards to the utility and emergency services. Motorists should continue to exercise caution at intersections where signals may be flashing or temporarily malfunctioning until the city confirms all traffic controls are operating normally.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor updates from Dominion Energy and city officials as investigators determine the cause of the outages and any broader impacts on Norfolk services.
