DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. -- As crews continue to restore power in Dinwiddie County following Saturday's ice storm, another ice storm forecast to arrive Thursday will slow those efforts.
"Oh I'm beyond concerned, beyond concerned," Jason Dean, who lost power last weekend, said after he learned his power may not be restored until sometime next week. "I feel it's going to put us right back to where we were on Saturday."
Jason and his family have gone five days without electricity.
"There seems to be no hope in sight," he said. "[That] is kind of how people feel right now."
While Southside Electric Co-Op and Dominion Energy Crews have restored power to about 60 percent of the county, just over 5,000 homes remain in the dark.
"Recognizing that the forecast and the second round is going to hit us very similar to what happened this weekend, we decided to open an emergency shelter," Dinwiddie County Administrator Kevin Massengill said.
"We need to get individuals to the shelter before the storm hits."
The Dinwiddie Department Social Services urged those in need of shelter to take advantage.
"[We want] them to be safe, want them to be out of the weather, want them to make sure they have the basic essentials they need to get through the storm," Natachia Randles, Director Dinwiddie Department Social Services, said. "Bring your medication with you to the shelter. If you have a baby, bring your diapers and formula."
The county's emergency shelter is located at Dinwiddie Elementary School (13811 Boydton Plank Rd, Dinwiddie, VA 23841).
