Atkins, Virginia, located in Smyth County, is a good distance from the coast, nestled in the southwestern part of the Mountain State. This inland positioning provides a degree of natural protection from direct hits by hurricanes. Despite this, Atkins can still experience indirect effects from tropical systems that make landfall and move inland. These impacts can include heavy rainfall, strong winds, and consequently flooding. Given the town's elevation in the Appalachian Mountains, the risk of flash flooding along streams and creeveways, as well as mudslides on steeper slopes, is a consideration during significant rainfall events. Over the past 30 years, one notable hurricane that impacted Atkins was Hurricane Fran in 1996. This storm resulted in heavy rainfalls that caused significant flooding in the southwestern part of Virginia, including Smyth County. Another significant storm, Hurricane Isabel in 2003, although mainly affecting the eastern part of the state, still brought heavy rainfalls and wind to Atkins. These past incidents underline the need for the area to keep hurricane preparedness in mind, despite Atkins' distance from the coast and higher elevation.