Fairlawn, Virginia, while notably inland, is still susceptible to the effects of hurricanes migrating from the Atlantic coast. As it's situated along the New River, Fairlawn's primary hurricane threat lies in flooding due to heavy rainfall. The town's lower average elevation, especially in areas close to the river, increases its vulnerability to this type of disaster. Powerful enough hurricanes can produce significant rainfall far from the coast, and the resulting runoff can overload the river's capacity. For this reason, the possibility of flash floods and flood damage should be the main concern for Fairlawn in hurricane scenarios. Infrastructure damage can also occur due to strong winds that often accompany such storms, but the likelihood and extent of this are much less than coastal regions. Over the past 30 years, Fairlawn has experienced the effects of several significant weather events, including hurricanes like Fran in 1996 and Isabel in 2003. These storms brought heavy precipitation inland, which significantly increased water levels in local rivers and caused widespread flooding. Hurricane Isabel, in particular, was responsible for one of the costliest and deadliest hurricane seasons in Virginia's history. While direct hurricane-force wind impact isn't frequent in Fairlawn, the remnant storm systems can still bring high-speed gusts, causing damage to structures and power systems. Residents should pay attention to these historical events and prepare for similar situations in the future.