More outages, downed trees possible

Pepco officials are warning customers of the potential for additional power outages and falling trees as severe thunderstorms move through the area Thursday.

Sunday's thunderstorms left trees and other structures near power lines weakened, and might be susceptible to the incoming inclement weather, said Pepco spokesman Bob Hainey.

D.C. Fire and EMS was already reporting Thursday afternoon one downed tree in the 1900 block of 35th Street NW.

As many as 9,000 Pepco customers were without power Thursday, he said. Should additional outages occur Thursday, Hainey said customers without power since Sunday would receive priority in restoring power.

He also said the response would likely be swift, because additional repair crews brought in from as far as Ohio and Pennsylvania to restore lines remain in the area.

A severe thunderstorm, with winds as high as 60 mph, has already begun moving through Montgomery County and the District, two areas hard hit by Sunday's storm.

-- Rick Rojas