Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said today that three people died in Chesterfield County traffic wrecks caused by heavy rain on the roads from Tropical Storm Hanna.

A man and woman died in a single-vehicle crash in the 19800 block of Matoaca Road shortly before noon, police said. Daniel R. Cain, 30, of the 12200 block of Manders Knoll Terrace, and passenger, Nicole Barone, 28, of the 2800 block of Autumn Woods Circle, died at the scene after the car they were in struck a tree, police said. Three passengers were taken to VCU Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

One person was killed on the 16400 block of Hull Street Road at 6:19 a.m. when a pickup ran off the road and struck trees. The identity of the victim was not immediately released.

But across the state, the governor said of the storm, "We were prepared for this one to be worse than it was."

Kaine said Hanna's most significant impact was heavy rain west of Interstate 95 and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches were common in that area, he said.  One part of Prince William County reportedly received 10 inches of rain.  Richmond got about 3.5 inches.
 
Three state roads in Northern Virginia were closed late in the day because of high water, as Hanna continued to dump heavy rain on the Washington suburbs.  Kaine said the storm was expected to clear the state by 5 p.m.
 
He said 51,000 homes remained without power because of downed trees and lines.  Kaine said a total of 104 people went to emergency shelters but that the number had declined to 80.
 
Kaine said state emergency officials had no immediate damage estimates from Hanna, and that they already were looking ahead to Hurricane Ike, which could make landfall in the Gulf of Mexico and send heavy rains to western Virginia.

Hanna's center crossed into Virginia about 10:30 a.m. between Emporia and Franklin, the National Weather Service said.

It moved up through eastern Virginia and continued this afternoon to drench Northern Virginia and the Northern Neck, said Bob Spieldenner, a spokesman for the state department of emergency operations.

No local governments had asked for state help, such as rescue boats or extra police. That indicates matters are under control, Spieldenner said.

About 56,000 Dominion Virginia Power customers were without electricity this afternoon, including about 30,000 in Hampton Roads and 4,900 in the Richmond area. The company has more than 2 million customers.

The storm dumped up to 3½ inches of rain on the Richmond area by mid-day. A narrow region roughly from Louisa County southwest to the North Carolina line got 6 to 7 inches.

Richmond got sustained winds of about 20 mph, gusting up to about 35 mph.

In Hampton Roads, the storm produced sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

The storm made landfall at 3:20 a.m. at the North-South Carolina border, starting a run up the Eastern Seaboard.

The worst of the storm already had passed the Outer Banks of North Carolina by 9 a.m. without causing any significant damage, said Sandy Sanderson, emergency services coordinator for Dare County, N.C., which includes most of the Outer Banks.

"It's been a quiet little storm," Sanderson said. "We're getting some rain we needed. It's just a good day to stay inside, and tomorrow's supposed to be beautiful.

He said some wind gusts of 55 to 60 mph were reported on Hatteras Island early this morning but that winds had died to 25-30 mph. No flooding occurred on the barrier islands because of the direction in which the winds were blowing, Sanderson said.

Farther south in North Carolina, a kite-surfer was reported missing but later turned up unharmed. Kite-surfers often challenge the big waves in advance of storms.

Virginia Beach began feeling the rain and moderate winds around 6 a.m., but a spokeswoman for the city's emergency operations center said no problems had been reported and only three homes were without power.

"We're all hunkered down but so far there's really nothing happening," she said. Conditions were expected to reach their worst in Virginia Beach in early afternoon.

Hanna's first rains in Richmond began late yesterday afternoon. The first victims were NASCAR fans, as officials postponed last night's Nationwide Series and today's Sprint Cup race. Both will be run tomorrow.

President Bush called the governors of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia yesterday to discuss preparations for Hanna, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine declared a state of emergency Thursday, freeing up extra state workers to respond to problems.

Hurricane Ike, heading last night toward the Bahamas, could pose a bigger problem. It weakened yesterday but still produced 115 mph winds. Montefusco, of the Weather Service, said it's too early to forecast its effect on Virginia.

At the Virginia Beach oceanfront yesterday and today, surfers rode the big waves generated from long range by the approaching storm.

Farther south in the city, roughly 100 Navy fighter jets flew from their base at Oceana Naval Air Station to get out of the storm's path.

Chesterfield County Public Schools have canceled all activities today and tomorrow because of the weather. That includes parks-and-recreation activities and church services held in schools.

Amtrak has canceled all its train service through Richmond and eastern Virginia today, while Greyhound is halting its buses between Richmond and Myrtle Beach, S.C. today.

Meanwhile, Richmond International Airport is advising people who are planning on taking or meeting airline flights to check their flight's status before going to the airport today.

"Obviously we're going to have some impact from it," said airport spokesman Troy Bell.

The Virginia Department of Transportation warned motorists not to drive over flooded roads, which may be washed out.

Staff writers Peter Bacque, Randy Hallman, Bill Geroux, Melodie Martin, Holly Prestidge and Neil Simon contributed to this report.