Tropical Storm Hanna left minimal damage in central Virginia and across the state but gave the region muchneeded rainfall, local and federal officials said yesterday.

The storm, which moved in quickly Saturday, dropped an average of 3 to 4 inches of rain in the Richmond region and up to 6 inches in some isolated areas, according to the National Weather Service in Wakefield.

"It came and went pretty quickly. . . . It did not bring any major impacts to the metro region outside of some minor flooding, and it brought us a good amount of rainfall, which is what we needed," said Mike Montefusco, a meteorologist in Wakefield.

The rainfall is expected to improve drought conditions that have prompted mandatory and voluntary water restrictions in central Virginia and other parts of the state.

"If there is a blessing from this storm it is that we got the rain," said Laura Southard, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

The department estimated storm damage to be very minimal. Henrico County assessed $6,000 in damage, while Caroline County reported $2,500, Southard said. No county or city had asked the state for assistance, she said.

Local police departments said Hanna mostly downed trees, but that yesterday, with the sun out and temperatures in the upper 80s, things seemed to be back to normal.

Dominion Virginia Power crews continued to work on restoring power yesterday evening. Fewer than 200 customers in the Richmond and Tri-Cities areas remained without electricity -- and not all outrages were stormrelated, said Karl Neddenien, a Dominion Virginia Power spokesman.

Officials said they continue to keep an eye on Hurricane Ike.

"At this point, it is looking pretty intense, but it doesn't look like it is heading toward [us]," Montefusco said. Ike could bring Virginia some rain next week, he said.
Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or llazo@timesdispatch.com.