Ashburn, Virginia is somewhat isolated from hurricane threats as compared to coastal areas, primarily due to its considerable distance from the Atlantic coast. This geographic location offers it some measure of protection against the direct forces of a hurricane -strong winds and storm surge. Nevertheless, it does not completely eliminate the risk. Hurricanes moving inland can still bring torrential rainfall to the area which may result in flash floods, especially taking into account the town's average elevation of about 295 feet above sea level. Its history affirms that flooding is a potential risk; for instance, significant rainfall from Hurricane Fran in 1996 caused flooding in areas near Ashburn. When considering hurricane impacts, it is also essential to bear in mind the potential for destructive winds and tornadoes as hurricanes make landfall and move inland. Even though these impacts lessen with distance from the coast, the extent of weakening is dependent on the size and strength of the individual storm system. Over the past few decades, the region has seen damages from major hurricanes like Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012 which resulted in power outages and tree damage due to strong winds. Therefore, despite its inland location, the residents of Ashburn should have emergency preparedness plans in place for hurricane threats.