Tropical Storm Elsa is withering as it creeps north along the East Coast, but its remnants spawned a storm that packed winds strong enough to wreak havoc along Duke Street in Alexandria.
Luis Ramirez had just gotten home from his construction job Thursday afternoon when he heard a ripping, tearing sound and then a thunderous boom. At the corner of Vermont Avenue and S. Gordon Street, a felled tree narrowly missed his house.
“I’m glad it fell away from the house,” Ramirez said. “I’m bummed, though. That was my Christmas tree. I’d climb all the way up and put lights on it. Not anymore.”
Dominion Energy’s outage map indicates there are more than 200 customers in the neighborhoods just south of Duke Street and east of Holmes Run without power. A transformer exploded nearby and Dominion Energy is currently on-site, with power estimated to be restored between 6-11 p.m., the power company says.
Nearby residents said on social media that street lights were briefly out in the area but have since been restored.
@dougkammerer Just experienced some very high winds outside old town Alexandria. Complete white out followed by down limbs and trees. pic.twitter.com/81xjyreECy
— MB Monge (@MBmonge) July 8, 2021
Strong winds and storm damage were also reported just across the Alexandria border, in the Rose Hill section of Fairfax County, including along Franconia Road.
James Cullum and Vernon Miles contributed to this story
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If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.

If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
Family Fun Fall Fest
Mark your calendars and join us for the Family Fun Fall Fest on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 11am – 2pm!
This FREE in-person event will be held at the Shoppes at Foxchase, located at 4641 Duke St, Alexandria, VA
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.