County: Fairfax
ZIP Codes: 22031, 22030, 22037
Despite being located about 100 miles inland from Virginia’s coast, Fairfax, Virginia is not exempt from the potential impacts of a hurricane. Its location downstream from the Blue Ridge Mountains makes it vulnerable to heavy rain, wind damage, and secondary impacts such as flash flooding. The elevation variation within Fairfax, especially in more hilly areas, possibly intensifies flood risks. Historically, Fairfax County experiences lesser wind impacts as compared to the coastal regions during a hurricane; however, the threat of flooding is prevalent, mostly if a hurricane stalls over central Virginia and continues to dump rain after making landfall. A major concern for Fairfax is the heavy rain inundating the Potomac River and its tributaries, leading to significant flooding. As for historical hurricanes, Hurricane Isabel in 2003 was one that brought substantial impact to Fairfax, VA. Winds reached up to 58 mph, knocking down trees, power lines, and causing massive outages throughout the region. Downpours led to considerable flooding, resulting in several road closures and property damage. The remnants of Hurricane Lee in 2011 is another significant event that led to severe flooding. The strong rain event caused the ground to become saturated which led to flash flooding. Fairfax county was declared a disaster area due to the significant damage. Thus, it’s crucial for residents to understand that while Fairfax may seem geographically insulated from a direct hit from a tropical system, the secondary and tertiary effects of a storm – increased rainfall, wind damage, and flood risk – can be substantial.