Tropical Storm Michael’s effects in the Heart of Virginia can be felt nearly a week after the storm’s high winds, torrential rainfall and flooding from the Appomattox River caught thousands by surprise and created widespread outages and road closures for thousands more.

WFLO Radio Station cited that approximately 6.18 inches of rain was measured during the storm Thursday.

Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) and Dominion Energy cited that the outages caused by several dozens of broken or fallen power lines have been notable and record-making.

SEC cited that at the peak of the tropical storm’s impact in the region, 40,000 of the company’s service members were impacted, which amounts to roughly 70 percent of SEC’s system.

“Hurricane Michael created devastation across the majority of our service territory,” Jeff Edwards, SEC’s president and CEO said in a news release. “Hundreds of fallen trees created miles of downed power lines to repair along with approximately 100 broken poles. This is the worst damage I have seen in my 33-year career, with the exception of hurricanes Hugo and Isabel.”

Dominion said there were more than 600,000 customers around the state who experienced outages, amounting to the sixth largest outage in the company’s history.

SEC cited that crew members have discovered nearly 100 broken poles, hundreds of fallen trees and miles of downed power lines in the area.

Over the weekend and into this week, several public entities and businesses have provided food, shelter, showers, charging stations for electrical devices and a sense of community for those experiencing isolation and the effects of power outages at their homes.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reported that as of Monday afternoon, approximately 30 roadways in Prince Edward County and approximately 13 roads in Cumberland are closed due to washouts, power lines down, trees down and flooding.

No primary roadways in Buckingham were closed as of Sunday evening.

Farmville Town Mayor David Whitus announced a Code Red status Thursday evening and asked that no motorists enter the town and cautioning people to avoid travel.

Jim Wilck, vice chairman and Farmville 701 representative with the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors, expressed his appreciation in a statement of the quickness in which crew responded in the face of major weather-related obstacles.

“The major arteries were cleared almost overnight and lesser streets followed as quickly as possible,” Wilck said in the statement. “I understand they had to leave the ones with live power lines down to the professionals, but what a herculean job to do what they did. Thanks also to the pipeline people who volunteered and worked beside the Town crews. Considering the extent of the damage we are blessed to have people like the town manager and Robin (Atkins) to derive an orderly cleanup plan out of something that could have been total chaos.”

He noted that the town also retained its fall pick up event Monday.

‘Takes care of her community’

Among those who offered services for families affected by power outages included Darlington Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Meherrin Fire & Rescue, which provided public use of outdoor faucets and indoor charging of electronics. Farmville Fire Department and Hampden-Sydney Volunteer Fire Department provided outdoor faucet use.

Southside Family YMCA provided showers for those who needed it without a membership.

Over the weekend, Bland Reid Funeral Home on Griffin Boulevard provided hot soup, bread, cookies and bottled water for those who needed it. Granny B’s Market on Abilene Road fired up the grill and despite not having electricity at the store, cooked sandwiches, hot dogs, pasta and chicken tenders.

Dominion Energy crew were fed at the Farmville Walmart parking lot over the weekend and into the week.

Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) and Cumberland County Public Schools (CUCPS) distributed free lunches to families affected by outages Monday. The Red Cross also distributed meals to PECPS Tuesday.

Barbara Maltais, Granny B herself, said Saturday in between running supplies in and outside the store, speaking to friends and helping serve meals, that she was floored by the response from the community, who despite not having power donated money to offset the cost of the food they distributed.

“Everybody’s been so nice,” Maltais said.

Maltais said she was inspired to start up the distribution because after days without power, people are grouchy and tired of being at home. Plus who doesn’t love good food?

“A hot meal is nice when you can get it,” Maltais said.

Janet Frankenberger, a neighbor of Maltais who helped distribute the meals, said Maltais was emotional about having to turn away customers after the storm, many who were elderly, because they did not have power.

The idea to distribute food to the community came late Friday night and news of the hot meal spread like wildfire.

“The response has been overwhelming, unbelievable” Frankenberger said.

“She takes care of her community,” Frankenberger said about Maltais.

Joseph Cherubin, a crew member on contract with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) stopped by for a meal and said he and others had been working around the clock since Friday, only stopping at home for a few hours before going back out to work on the roads.

“We’re here to help you guys,” Cherubin said.