Have you ever felt that yearning, that irresistible pull to explore? To truly *know* a place, not just skim its surface on a screen? I certainly have. There’s something uniquely satisfying about unfolding a physical map, tracing your finger along winding roads, identifying historical landmarks, or planning an outdoor adventure with a tangible guide in your hands. It’s a connection that digital screens, for all their convenience, just can’t replicate.
For anyone who’s ever searched for a "printable map of Virginia," you’re not just looking for a piece of paper; you’re looking for a key. A key to unlocking the rich history, diverse landscapes, and vibrant culture of the Old Dominion. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler plotting your next scenic route, a history buff eager to pinpoint Civil War battlefields, a student learning about state geography, or a parent planning an educational road trip, the need for a reliable, easy-to-use map is universal.
Trust me, I’ve been there. I remember planning my first solo road trip through Virginia, utterly convinced my phone’s GPS would be my infallible guide. But as I ventured into the Blue Ridge Mountains, signal bars vanished, and my digital map became a blank screen. That’s when I truly understood the irreplaceable value of a physical, *printable map of Virginia*. It saved me from a very long, very lost afternoon and turned a potential disaster into a memorable adventure, where I navigated by landmarks and the sheer joy of discovery. This guide is born from that very experience – a desire to equip you with everything you need to confidently explore Virginia, armed with the perfect map.
In this comprehensive guide, we're going to dive deep into the world of printable Virginia maps. We'll explore various types, uncover the best sources, share tips for perfect printing, and even delve into how these seemingly simple pieces of paper can become powerful tools for learning, planning, and truly experiencing Virginia. Get ready to embark on a cartographic journey that will transform how you see and explore this incredible state.
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Table of Contents
- [The All-Rounder: General-Purpose Virginia Maps](#the-all-rounder-general-purpose-virginia-maps)
- [Navigating the Old Dominion: Road & Travel Maps](#navigating-the-old-dominion-road--travel-maps)
- [Virginia's Rich Tapestry: Historical & Cultural Maps](#virginias-rich-tapestry-historical--cultural-maps)
- [Nature's Canvas: Topographic & Outdoor Adventure Maps](#natures-canvas-topographic--outdoor-adventure-maps)
- [Learning Through Maps: Educational & Classroom Resources](#learning-through-maps-educational--classroom-resources)
- [Beyond the Paper: Digital & Interactive Map Companions](#beyond-the-paper-digital--interactive-map-companions)
- [The Art of Printing: Tips for High-Quality Output](#the-art-of-printing-tips-for-high-quality-output)
- [Customizing Your Journey: Personalized Map Creation](#customizing-your-journey-personalized-map-creation)
- [Emergency Preparedness: Maps for When It Matters Most](#emergency-preparedness-maps-for-when-it-matters-most)
- [How to Choose the Best Printable Map of Virginia for Your Needs](#how-to-choose-the-best-printable-map-of-virginia-for-your-needs)
- [Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Using Printable Virginia Maps](#common-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-using-printable-virginia-maps)
- [Advanced Tips for Expert Map Users & Researchers](#advanced-tips-for-expert-map-users--researchers)
- [Conclusion: Your Journey, Mapped Out](#conclusion-your-journey-mapped-out)
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The All-Rounder: General-Purpose Virginia Maps
When most people think of a "printable map of Virginia," they likely envision a general-purpose map. These are the workhorses of the cartographic world – offering a broad overview of the state, its major cities, counties, and primary transportation arteries. They're perfect for getting your bearings, understanding the overall layout, and making initial plans.
1. Overview of State Boundaries and Shape: The classic Virginia silhouette, easily recognizable, showing its unique geographical position bordering the Atlantic, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. This is your starting point for any geographical understanding.
2. Major Cities and Towns: Key population centers like Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Roanoke, Charlottesville, and Alexandria are clearly marked, giving you a sense of where urban hubs are located.
3. County Divisions: Virginia's 95 counties and 38 independent cities are typically delineated, providing a clear political and administrative breakdown of the state. This is invaluable for understanding local governance or even just knowing which county your destination falls into.
4. Principal Highways and Interstates: The major arteries, including I-95, I-81, I-64, and others, are prominently displayed, making it easy to see how different regions are connected. This is essential for any long-distance travel planning.
5. Key Geographic Features (Mountains, Rivers, Coastline): The Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, James River, Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic coastline are usually represented, giving you a visual sense of Virginia's diverse topography.
6. State Capital and Major Landmarks: Richmond, as the capital, is always highlighted. Important historical sites or natural landmarks might also be indicated, offering quick reference points.
7. Scale and Legend: Even on a general map, a basic scale bar and legend explaining symbols (e.g., state parks, airports) are crucial for interpreting the information accurately.
8. Ideal for Initial Trip Planning: Before diving into specifics, a general printable map of Virginia helps you visualize your entire journey, from the coastal plains to the Appalachian Highlands.
9. Educational Aid: For students, these maps are excellent for learning basic Virginia geography, identifying major regions, and understanding spatial relationships. I once helped my niece with a school project, and a simple printed map of Virginia was far more engaging for her than staring at a screen. She could color in regions and label features, truly making it her own.
10. Wall Decor: A beautifully printed, large-format general map of Virginia can make a fantastic piece of wall art, especially for those who love the state or cartography.
11. Quick Reference: Need to quickly check which counties border the Chesapeake Bay? Or where Roanoke is relative to Richmond? A general printable map of Virginia is perfect for these quick look-ups.
12. The "Big Picture" View: These maps excel at providing context. You can see how the northern Virginia suburbs relate to Washington D.C., or how the southwestern mountains connect to Tennessee and Kentucky. It’s like getting a bird's-eye view of the entire state before you zoom in on the details.
Navigating the Old Dominion: Road & Travel Maps
When it’s time to hit the road, a general overview isn't enough. You need detail, clarity, and precision. Road and travel maps are specifically designed for drivers and explorers, offering granular information necessary for smooth journeys across Virginia's diverse landscapes.
1. Detailed Road Networks: Beyond major interstates, these maps show state highways, secondary roads, and sometimes even significant local routes. This is crucial for planning detours or exploring scenic byways.
2. Mile Markers and Distances: Many good road maps include mile markers on interstates and state routes, or even provide approximate distances between key points, aiding in trip timing.
3. Points of Interest (POIs): Expect to find icons or labels for state parks, national forests, historical markers, tourist attractions, rest stops, and welcome centers. My wife and I once used a detailed printable map of Virginia to discover a hidden gem of a roadside diner that wasn't on our GPS, simply by spotting a small, intriguing icon. It was one of the best meals of our trip!
4. City Insets/Zoomed Views: For larger metropolitan areas like Richmond, Virginia Beach, or Northern Virginia, a good travel map will often include zoomed-in sections showing more detailed street grids and local points of interest.
5. Gas Stations and Services: While less common on *printable* versions due to dynamic changes, some digital versions from which you print might indicate areas with services, or general areas where you can expect to find them.
6. Scenic Routes and Byways: Virginia boasts numerous scenic drives (e.g., Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive). Dedicated travel maps often highlight these, encouraging more leisurely and picturesque journeys.
7. Elevation Changes (Subtle): While not full topographic maps, road maps sometimes use subtle shading or small elevation markers to indicate mountainous terrain, which can be useful for drivers.
8. Visitor Information Centers: Locations of state and regional visitor centers are often marked, providing valuable resources once you’re on the ground.
9. Ferry Routes: For destinations like Tangier Island or crossing the James River, ferry routes and terminals are essential details found on comprehensive travel maps.
10. The "Offline Advantage": This is where a printable map of Virginia truly shines. When your phone loses signal in a rural area or its battery dies, a physical map becomes your lifeline. I can't tell you how many times I've heard stories (and experienced it myself!) of people getting stranded when their digital navigation failed. A printed map is immune to dead batteries and spotty signals – a true travel companion.
11. Pre-trip Planning: Spreading out a large printable map allows you to visualize your route, mark stops, calculate approximate driving times, and even highlight alternative paths. It’s a tactile, engaging way to plan.
12. Tangible Souvenir: After a memorable road trip, a well-used and marked-up printable map of Virginia becomes a cherished memento, filled with the stories of your adventure. It's a physical reminder of where you've been and what you've seen.
Virginia's Rich Tapestry: Historical & Cultural Maps
Virginia is steeped in history, from the Jamestown settlement to the Civil Rights movement. Historical and cultural maps are not just geographical guides; they are windows into the past, illustrating how events, people, and movements shaped the land we know today.
1. Colonial Era Maps: These maps might show early settlements, indigenous tribal territories, and the original colonial county boundaries, offering a glimpse into Virginia's birth.
2. Revolutionary War Battle Sites: Pinpoint locations of pivotal battles, encampments, and strategic movements during the fight for independence. Seeing these sites on a map brings the history to life.
3. Civil War Battlefields and Campaigns: Virginia was central to the Civil War. Maps dedicated to this period detail major battlefields (Manassas, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, Appomattox), troop movements, and strategic lines. For a history enthusiast like me, tracing the movements of armies on a printable map of Virginia is an immersive experience that no textbook can replicate.
4. Plantation and Estate Locations: Maps can illustrate the vast plantation system of the antebellum South, showing the locations of historic homes like Monticello, Mount Vernon, and Stratford Hall.
5. Underground Railroad Routes: Some specialized maps detail potential routes and safe houses used by enslaved people seeking freedom, offering a powerful look at a critical period in American history.
6. Early Transportation Routes: Showcasing old canals, railways, and turnpikes, these maps reveal how people and goods moved across Virginia before modern infrastructure.
7. Cultural Regions and Folkways: While less common for printing, some maps delineate areas known for specific cultural traditions, music, or craft, like the Appalachian traditions of Southwest Virginia or the Tidewater culture.
8. Native American Heritage Sites: Maps indicating ancestral lands, archaeological sites, and modern-day tribal reservations help illuminate Virginia's rich indigenous past and present.
9. Historic District Overlays: For cities like Richmond or Williamsburg, maps might show overlays of designated historic districts, useful for walking tours or architectural appreciation.
10. Genealogical Research Aid: For those tracing family roots in Virginia, old county maps or property maps can be invaluable for understanding ancestral lands and migrations. I once helped a friend find the approximate location of their 5th great-grandparents' farm using an old county map printed from an archive.
11. Educational Tools for Deeper Understanding: These maps are phenomenal for classroom settings, enabling students to visualize historical events in a geographical context, fostering a deeper, more tangible understanding of the past.
12. Thematic Storytelling: Each historical map tells a specific story. Whether it’s the expansion of the colony or the shifting front lines of a war, a well-chosen printable map of Virginia transforms static information into a dynamic narrative.
Nature's Canvas: Topographic & Outdoor Adventure Maps
For the hikers, climbers, kayakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, general maps just won't cut it. You need to see the elevation, the trails, the waterways – the very texture of Virginia's wild beauty. Topographic and outdoor adventure maps are your essential companions for exploring the state's natural wonders.
1. Contour Lines and Elevation: The defining feature of topographic maps, contour lines, show changes in elevation, giving you a 3D understanding of the terrain. Essential for judging steepness on a hike or planning a challenging bike ride.
2. Hiking and Biking Trails: Clearly marked trails, including segments of the Appalachian Trail, the Virginia Creeper Trail, and various state park trails, are vital for navigating wilderness areas.
3. Water Features (Rivers, Lakes, Streams, Wetlands): Detailed representation of waterways, crucial for paddlers, fishermen, and anyone needing to locate water sources or avoid flooded areas.
4. Forest Boundaries and Land Cover: National Forests (e.g., George Washington and Jefferson National Forests) and State Forests are delineated, along with different types of vegetation, helping you understand the environment.
5. Campgrounds and Shelters: For backpackers and campers, locations of designated campsites, backcountry shelters, and primitive camping zones are invaluable.
6. Scenic Overlooks and Vistas: Many outdoor maps highlight points of interest with breathtaking views, perfect for photographers or those seeking a moment of tranquility. My personal favorite type of printable map of Virginia is a detailed topo map for a specific section of the Appalachian Trail. There’s nothing quite like planning a multi-day hike, spread out on the floor, tracing potential routes and campsites.
7. Access Points and Parking: Crucial for any outdoor excursion, these maps show where you can park your car and begin your adventure.
8. Rock Formations and Caves: For climbers or spelunkers, specialized maps might indicate unique geological features.
9. Hunting and Fishing Zones: Some maps cater to sportsmen, showing public hunting lands, fishing access points, and relevant regulations.
10. Emergency Navigation: In remote areas where GPS is unreliable, a printed topographic map and a compass are non-negotiable safety tools. I’ve seen firsthand how quickly a beautiful day hike can turn serious if you lose your way, and a good topo map is a lifesaver.
11. Understanding Water Flow and Drainage: Contour lines also help you visualize how water moves across the landscape, which is crucial for understanding hydrology, avoiding flash flood zones, or finding good fishing spots.
12. Inspiring Exploration: Simply looking at a detailed topographic map of a Virginia wilderness area can ignite a desire for adventure. The lines and symbols tell a story of peaks, valleys, and hidden gems, inviting you to explore.
Learning Through Maps: Educational & Classroom Resources
Maps are fundamental educational tools, offering a visual and spatial understanding of complex information. For students of all ages, a printable map of Virginia can transform abstract concepts into tangible, understandable realities.
1. State Geography Basics: Simple outline maps for labeling counties, major cities, rivers, and mountain ranges – perfect for elementary and middle school students.
2. Thematic Maps (Climate, Agriculture, Population): Maps illustrating specific data sets, such as average rainfall, primary agricultural products by region, population density, or economic activity. These are fantastic for social studies and geography lessons.
3. Blank Outline Maps for Labeling: Provides a clean canvas for students to fill in information themselves, reinforcing learning through active engagement. This is a classic classroom activity that helps solidify geographical knowledge.
4. Historical Event Overlays: Maps showing the progression of historical events across the state, such as westward expansion, the route of explorer John Smith, or the impact of major wars.
5. Natural Resources and Industries: Illustrating where coal is mined, where tobacco is grown, or where major shipping ports are located, connecting geography to economy.
6. State Symbols and Landmarks: Maps that highlight the location of the state capital, state parks, and other official landmarks, helping students learn about their state's identity.
7. Watershed Maps: Showing the intricate network of rivers and streams that feed into larger bodies of water like the Chesapeake Bay, teaching environmental science and conservation.
8. Local Government and Political Divisions: Detailed maps of counties and their seats, explaining how Virginia's local government structure works.
9. Interactive Map Activities (Printed): Even a static printable map of Virginia can become interactive. Students can use highlighters, stickers, or drawing tools to mark areas of interest, trace routes, or answer questions directly on the map.
10. Research Project Foundations: For high school or college students, a high-quality printable map can serve as the base for more complex research projects, allowing them to overlay their own data or analysis. I remember creating a presentation on Virginia's wine regions, and a detailed printed map showing the various AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) was central to my visual explanation.
11. Engaging Visual Aids: Maps break up text-heavy lessons, providing a visual anchor that can help students process and retain information more effectively, especially visual learners.
12. Cross-Curricular Learning: A single printable map of Virginia can be used across multiple subjects – history, geography, environmental science, and even economics – making it an incredibly versatile teaching tool.
Beyond the Paper: Digital & Interactive Map Companions
While our focus is on printable maps, it's impossible to ignore the digital realm from which most printable maps originate. Understanding these digital companions enhances your ability to find, customize, and ultimately print the perfect map.
1. Online Map Generators: Websites like Google My Maps, ArcGIS Online, or even specialized state-level GIS portals allow you to create custom maps by selecting layers (roads, terrain, points of interest) and then exporting them as PDFs for printing.
2. High-Resolution Image Downloads: Many government agencies (e.g., USGS, Virginia Department of Transportation) and historical archives offer high-resolution digital images of maps that can be downloaded and printed.
3. PDF Format Advantages: Most printable maps are offered as PDFs, which maintain excellent quality regardless of zoom level and are easy to share and print consistently across different devices.
4. Interactive Legends and Layers: Digital maps often feature interactive legends where you can toggle different layers on and off, allowing you to customize the information before you even print.
5. Search Functionality: Quickly find specific locations, landmarks, or addresses within a digital map, which you can then center and print.
6. Geolocation (for planning): While the printed map won't track you, using a digital map's geolocation feature beforehand helps you orient yourself and find the exact area you want to print for your journey.
7. Crowdsourced Data: Some interactive maps incorporate crowdsourced information (e.g., AllTrails for hiking), which can add valuable, up-to-date details to your printable version.
8. Offline Access for Digital Versions: Many mapping apps allow you to download map sections for offline use on your device, serving as a digital backup to your physical printable map of Virginia when you're out of signal range.
9. Augmented Reality (AR) Overlays (Emerging): While still niche, some applications are starting to offer AR overlays that, when pointed at a physical map, can bring up digital information, blending the best of both worlds. Imagine pointing your phone at a printed historical map and seeing 3D reconstructions of old buildings!
10. Version Control and Updates: Digital maps are continuously updated, ensuring you can always print the most current information, unlike static paper maps that quickly become outdated. This is particularly important for road maps where new construction is frequent.
11. Dynamic Scaling: You can zoom in on a specific neighborhood or zoom out to see the entire state, then select your desired print area, giving you incredible flexibility in what your printable map of Virginia will show.
12. Accessibility Features: Digital platforms often include accessibility options like text-to-speech for map labels or high-contrast modes, which can be useful before printing for users with visual impairments.
The Art of Printing: Tips for High-Quality Output
Finding the perfect digital map is only half the battle; printing it effectively is where the magic happens. A poorly printed map can be unreadable and frustrating. Here’s how to ensure your printable map of Virginia comes out looking crisp, clear, and ready for adventure.
1. Choose High-Resolution Sources: Always start with the highest quality digital file available. Look for PDFs, SVG, or high-DPI (dots per inch) image files. A low-resolution image will always print poorly, no matter how good your printer is.
2. Select the Right Paper:
- Matte Photo Paper: Offers excellent color saturation and detail, with no glare. Ideal for display maps or frequently handled maps.
- Card Stock: Thicker and more durable, good for maps that will see a lot of use or be folded repeatedly.
- Waterproof/Tear-Resistant Paper: For outdoor use, consider specialized synthetic papers (e.g., Rite in the Rain) that are impervious to the elements. This is my go-to choice for hiking maps; I've learned the hard way that a soggy map is useless!
- Standard Printer Paper: Fine for quick reference or single-use maps, but less durable.
3. Calibrate Your Printer: Ensure your printer's settings are optimized for the paper type and quality. Select "Best" or "Photo Quality" for intricate maps, and make sure your ink cartridges are full and clean.
4. Print in "Actual Size" or "Fit to Page" Strategically:
- "Actual Size" (100% scale) ensures the map's scale bar is accurate. Crucial for topographic or navigational maps where precise distances matter.
- "Fit to Page" is fine for general reference maps where exact scale isn't critical, but be aware it will distort the original scale.
5. Consider Large Format Printing: For a wall map or a highly detailed road map, consider using a professional print shop or a wide-format printer. This allows for larger, more legible printouts than a standard home printer.
6. Color vs. Black & White: While color is usually best for maps, sometimes a well-designed black and white map can be clearer, especially if the original digital file has too many conflicting colors. Ensure good contrast.
7. Laminating for Durability: For maps you'll use outdoors or frequently, laminating them after printing protects against water, tears, and dirt. This significantly extends the life of your printable map of Virginia.
8. Test Print Sections: Before printing an entire large map, print a small section at actual size to check readability, color accuracy, and overall quality. This can save you ink and paper.
9. Check Orientation and Margins: Ensure the map prints correctly oriented (portrait or landscape) and that no important information is cut off by the printer's margins.
10. Folding Techniques: For large maps that need to be carried, learn proper map-folding techniques (e.g., accordion fold) to keep them compact and easy to unfold to the section you need, without excessive creasing. My dad taught me this when I was a kid, and it's a small but mighty skill!
11. Understand DPI (Dots Per Inch): Higher DPI means more detail. For intricate maps, aim for files that are at least 300 DPI for optimal print quality. This is especially important for areas with dense information like city insets or complex contour lines.
12. Ink Type and Longevity: If your map is for long-term display or frequent handling, consider printers that use pigment-based inks, which are more resistant to fading and water than dye-based inks.
Customizing Your Journey: Personalized Map Creation
Why settle for a generic map when you can have one tailored precisely to your needs? Personalized map creation transforms a simple printable map of Virginia into a powerful, unique tool that reflects your specific interests and plans.
1. Highlighting Your Route: Use markers, highlighters, or even digital drawing tools before printing to emphasize your planned driving route, hiking trail, or historical tour path.
2. Marking Points of Interest: Add custom icons or labels for specific restaurants, lodging, family homes, scenic viewpoints, or hidden gems you want to visit. This is particularly useful for niche interests, like a "Virginia Brewery Tour Map."
3. Adding Personal Annotations: Before or after printing, jot down notes, anecdotes, or important details directly onto the map. "Best BBQ here!", "Scenic overlook with great photo ops," or "Dad's childhood home."
4. Thematic Overlays: Create a map focused on a specific theme: Virginia's wineries, Civil War battlefields, covered bridges, lighthouses, or even just all the state parks you plan to visit.
5. Combining Information: Merge data from different sources onto one map. For example, overlay historical sites onto a modern road map to plan a historically-themed road trip.
6. Custom Scale and Area: Instead of a full state map, focus on a specific region or county at a larger, more detailed scale that's relevant to your immediate plans. This makes your printable map of Virginia much more manageable for localized exploration.
7. Including Personal Photos: For a truly unique keepsake, you can digitally add small photo placeholders or actual photos to your map before printing, creating a visual travelogue.
8. Creating a "Bucket List" Map: Mark all the places in Virginia you *want* to visit, turning your map into a dynamic goal-setter and conversation starter. I have a wall map of Virginia covered in pins marking all the state parks I've visited – and many more I *will* visit!
9. Family Reunion Maps: If family is coming to visit, create a custom map showing their lodging, key event locations, and local attractions, making their visit easier and more memorable.
10. Gift Maps: A personalized printable map of Virginia makes a thoughtful gift for a loved one who lives in, loves, or is planning a trip to the state. Imagine a map highlighting all the places a couple had their first dates!
11. Educational Project Customization: For students, customizing maps with their own research findings or creative elements makes learning more engaging and personal. They can map out their family's migration history within Virginia, for example.
12. "My Virginia Story" Map: This is my go-to gadget because it's a game-changer for personalizing travel. Use an online tool or even just a graphics program to create a map that tells *your* story of Virginia – places you've lived, loved, or experienced. It’s a powerful way to connect with the geography on a deeply personal level.
Emergency Preparedness: Maps for When It Matters Most
In an emergency, reliable information is paramount. While digital devices are convenient, they are vulnerable to power outages, network failures, and damage. A physical, printable map of Virginia is an essential, often overlooked, component of any robust emergency preparedness kit.
1. Evacuation Routes: Maps that clearly mark official evacuation routes, especially for coastal areas or regions prone to natural disasters. This is critical for getting to safety quickly and efficiently.
2. Shelter Locations: Identifying designated emergency shelters, community centers, or safe zones where assistance can be found.
3. Key Infrastructure: Locations of hospitals, police stations, fire departments, and other emergency services are vital when communication systems are down.
4. Water Sources and Supply Points: In a prolonged emergency, knowing where potable water sources or distribution points are located can be a lifesaver.
5. Road Closures/Detours (pre-planned): While dynamic, having a general understanding of alternative routes in case main roads are blocked is crucial. Print multiple versions if possible, showing various scenarios.
6. Topographic Information for Off-Grid Travel: If forced to travel on foot or by alternative means, a topographic map provides crucial details about terrain, potential obstacles, and navigable paths.
7. Communication Blackout Readiness: A physical map is immune to power outages, EMPs, or cyberattacks that could render digital maps useless. It’s a truly resilient tool.
8. Local Area Detail: Beyond a state overview, having detailed printable maps of Virginia for your immediate county or neighborhood is essential for navigating local challenges during an emergency.
9. Meeting Points: Mark pre-arranged family or community meeting points on your map, in case communication is lost and you need to rendezvous.
10. Resource Location: Identifying potential sources of food, fuel, or other supplies if commercial services are disrupted. This requires some foresight and marking these on your custom map.
11. No Battery Required: This is the simplest yet most profound advantage. When all else fails, a printed map works. I once experienced a prolonged power outage during a winter storm