UPDATE 9/23 AT 7:18 P.M. MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WFXR) — Power has been restored to over 1,200 customers in Martinsville after hours of being in the dark on Saturday.

According to the Appalachian Power outage map, about 20 customers remain without service, and power is expected to be restored on Sept. 24 by 3 a.m.

At this time, there are still small outages impacting customers in the Roanoke, Writz, and Cave Spring areas.

To check the status of an outage near you, visit the Appalachian Power website, or use the interactive AEP map.

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UPDATE 9/23 AT 2:33 P.M. MARTINSVILLE, Va. (WFXR) — As Tropical Storm Ophelia continues to surge through the region, many are still in the dark.

According to the Appalachian Power outage map, the majority of power has been restored to customers in the Roanoke Valley. At this time, approximately 277 customers remain without power in Roanoke. There are still small outages in surrounding areas including Rocky Mount, Boones Mill, and Fincastle.

However, the majority of outages are now in Southside Virginia with about 1,470 people in the dark.

The power company says customers can expect service to be restored by 10 p.m. on Sept. 23.

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ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — Bands of rain and wind gusts from tropical storm Ophelia are making its way across the region, leaving hundreds in the dark on Saturday afternoon.

According to Appalachian Power, over 800 hundred customers are without electricity in the Roanoke Valley. Surrounding areas including Rocky Mount, Bedford, and Fincastle, are also seeing small outages; however, the majority of outages remain near the Cave Spring area.

Currently, the AEP outage map shows about 849 customers without power in the Windsor Hills community. At this time, power is expected to fully be restored by 7 p.m. on Sept. 23.

As the storm continues to impact our region AEP shared the following tips:

  • Plan Ahead– Develop an emergency plan for you and your family. Be sure to contact family, friends, neighbors with young children, the elderly, or people with medical conditions to ensure they also have a plan.
  • Make an emergency outage kit– Get ahead of storms by assembling an emergency preparedness kit that includes non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, a portable cell phone charging bank, a blanket or sleeping bag, a first aid kit and any necessary medications.
  • Stay away from downed lines– Remember, all downed lines are dangerous, they can carry an electric current that can cause serious or even fatal injuries. If you see a fallen wire, stay away and keep others away, including children and pets. Call Appalachian Power at 1-800-956-4237 or 911 immediately. 
  • Remember, safety first– If the power goes out, always use caution when using generators. Proper ventilation is necessary to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and fires. If you use a portable or RV generator, do not plug the generator into your home’s main electrical panel. This can “back-feed” electricity into outside utility lines, creating the danger of electrocution for repair crews and the public. Instead, read the manufacturer’s instructions and only plug essential appliances directly into the generator.
  • Stay in the know

To check the status of an outage near you, visit the Appalachian Power website, or use the interactive AEP map.

WFXR News will continue to follow the status of power outages in the area and will update this story as information is released.