Ashland's risk of a direct hurricane impact is moderate due to its inland location approximately 60 miles from the Virginia coast. This significant distance provides some level of protection as hurricane intensity generally decreases considerably moving inland, primarily due to the loss of the warm ocean water that fuels these storms. However, despite being inland, Ashland is susceptible to heavy rainfall and consequential flooding, particularly along the creeks and streams that lace the region. The town's modest elevation, averaging about 200 feet, does not provide significant protection from such flooding events. Looking back on Ashland's history, while it has not faced a direct hit from any major hurricane in the last 30 years, the impacts of these tropical systems, especially from remnant rainfall, have been felt strongly. Most notably, Hurricanes Fran (1996) and Isabel (2003) resulted in substantial flooding in the Ashland area causing property damage and disruption of city services. Past models predict that a Hurricane the scale of Isabel or higher could cause significant flooding and high winds in Ashland. Therefore, despite the inland location, it’s crucial for residents to heed evacuation orders and take hurricane warnings seriously.