Sedley, Virginia, being situated about 50 miles inland from the Atlantic coast, usually acts as a buffer zone against the direct impact of hurricanes, although that does not mean the town is immune to the effects. Hurricanes can and do move inland, bringing heavy rain bands which can trigger significant flooding due to the elevation of Sedley, which is only about 50 feet above sea level. Historically, Sedley has been susceptible to flood risks owing to this relatively low elevation and the nature of its topography. It is also important to note the potential for damaging winds that can cause falling trees and power outages. Looking at the past 30 years, one notable event that had significant impacts on Sedley was Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Floyd caused considerable damage due to the heavy rains and flooding. Another significant storm was Tropical Storm Ernesto in 2006 and then later Hurricane Matthew in 2016, both of which also resulted in substantial flooding in the area. Therefore, while Sedley may not face direct landfalls, the potential of hurricane-induced flooding and wind damage pose critical considerations for the town's emergency planning.