County: Carroll
ZIP Codes: 30118, 30116, 30117, 30109, 30112
Carrollton, Virginia faces considerable risk from hurricanes and tropical storms, given its proximity to the Atlantic coast and the James River. Its low-lying terrain makes it particularly susceptible to both storm surge and rainfall-induced flooding. Hurricanes often spawn tornadoes, another risk in this area. Increased rainfall can easily saturate the ground, even if the storm passes quickly. Moreover, Carrollton suffers from the risk of high winds and heavy rain even when it is far from the eyewall of a hurricane because of the broad wind field of these storms. Looking at the historical records, Carrollton has experienced several significant storms over the last 30 years. In 2003, Hurricane Isabel caused extensive damage, flooding, and power outages. It was one of the most severe storms to ever hit the region, with winds reaching as high as 105 mph in some areas. More recently, Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018 also caused significant and extensive flooding and damage. Hence, these risks should not be taken lightly, and it is always important for residents and officials to be adequately prepared.