VIRGINIA BEACH (AP) -- Tropical Storm Hanna is shortening vacations at Virginia Beach.

As Hanna inches up the Atlantic, vacation rentals along the resort city's Sandbridge section emptied one day before the usual Saturday departure date.

13News

The ocean churned Saturday morning and rain was sporadic.

Along the city's boardwalk and glitzy Atlantic Avenue, few people were venturing outside as rain pelted the oceanfront.

Dwayne Blankenship traveled from the Los Angeles area to visit his son, Bryan, who came from his Washington, D.C., home for a business trip to Virginia Beach.

The elder Blankenship pronounced the weather "great," saying the wind and rain was unlike any weather in California.

Despite gusting winds and stinging wind-blown sand on Saturday morning, some people ventured to the ocean's edge as waves of 4 to 6 feet rolled in at sharp angles. Some waded in to their ankles.

A Shriners parade at the beach scheduled for Saturday was canceled.

In Norfolk, minor flooding in Ocean View is reported, city spokesman Bob Batcher told 13News around 9;45 a.m. Saturday.

He says a few people, including himself, used the free parking at city garages to get their vehicles out of the way if flooding occurs.

"Luckily, we haven’t had the folding so far," he told 13News.

Batcher says he's only heard one report of a downed tree somewhere on the east side of the city.

From Dominion Virginia Power, thousands are without power in Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina. Call to report outages or downed power lines at 1-888-667-3000.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)