County: Screven
ZIP Codes: 30446
Newington, Virginia, being roughly 100 miles inland from the Atlantic Coast, does not often bear the brunt of a hurricane's impact like coastal towns do, however, it is susceptible to secondary effects such as heavy rain, flooding, and wind damage. While its elevation, which is rather low, sits at about 279 feet means it isn't at risk for common high-elevation storm impacts, it does mean that the area is prone to flooding, particularly when significant rainfall occurs. Historically, the city has seen flooding from extreme weather events, and a hurricane could exacerbate the risk, particularly as hurricanes have the potential to push high volumes of water into the Potomac River, which could subsequently overflow. Within the past 30 years, there have been a number of significant hurricane and flood threats to the region. For example, Hurricanes Fran (1996) and Isabel (2003) both resulted in significant rainfall and wind damage in the greater Northern Virginia region. Floods associated with these storms disrupted normal operations and caused significant property damage. Additionally, the historic rainfall from Hurricane Floyd (1999) likewise caused flood problems, affecting residential areas and infrastructures. Therefore, while Newington remains somewhat insulated from the full force of Atlantic hurricanes, locals should continue to monitor forecasts vigilantly and heed evacuation warnings, as the secondary effects of hurricanes can still be severe and potentially dangerous.