St. Paul, Virginia, although somewhat remote from the Atlantic coast, still runs potential risks from hurricanes, particularly the inland effects such as heavy rains, flash-floods, and strong winds which can cause structural and land damages. Due to its elevation, which slightly reduces the likelihood of flooding, risks primarily come from volume of rainfall over a prolonged period from a slow-moving system that could cause waterways to swell and flash flooding in specific areas to occur. Land slips due to saturation are also a possibility in hilly or mountainous regions. Historically, St. Paul has been affected by deadly storms, one of the more significant being Hurricane Camille in 1969 which caused severe floodings due to its devastating rainfall. In the past 30 years however, the town has not been hit directly by major hurricanes, though it has felt the remnants of these coastal storms. Hurricane Fran in 1996 soaked Virginia with its remnants, leading to widespread flooding, and again the inland rains from Hurricane Isabel in 2003 led to one of the largest power outages in the state's history. Storm preparedness and early warning systems are essential considerations for residents here, as no location is completely safe from the potential impacts of a powerful weather event.