Motley, Virginia, situated approximately 250 miles inland from the coast, is still susceptible to certain consequences resulting from hurricanes, primarily in the form of heavy rains leading to inland flooding, high-speed winds, and occasional tornadoes spun off from the main hurricane system. Its relative distance from the coast, however, diminishes the chance of direct impact like storm surges. Yet, the town does have a history of flooding due to its network of creeks and its elevation is relatively low which could increase the flood risk. Wind damage could be significant as well, particularly to structures and trees, while resulting power outages could cause further disruption. Over the past 30 years, Motley has been indirectly impacted by major hurricanes hitting the east coast, most notably Hurricanes Fran in 1996 and Isabel in 2003. Both systems, after making initial landfall on the coast, traveled inland and produced heavy rainfall in the region. Hurricane Michael in 2018, although weakened to a tropical storm by the time it reached Virginia, created severe flooding in parts of the state, including Motley. Thus, preparing for possible flooding and high winds should be a major part of any disaster planning in Motley, Virginia. As the climate shifts, there's a potential for increased intensity of Atlantic hurricanes, which means future threats to Motley could be more severe.