Fries, Virginia, located approximately 240 miles from the nearest coastline, isn't directly affected by the immediate impact of landfalling hurricanes. However, the community can experience secondary effects such as heavy rain, flooding, and sometimes even strong winds from these tropical systems. The town's elevation ranges from 2,000-2,500 feet, meaning that any low-lying areas within the community could be at risk of flash flooding. Furthermore, Fries is situated along the New River, making it susceptible to river flooding due to heavy rainfall from hurricane remnants. Flash flooding can often be more destructive and life-threatening than the wind damage from a tropical system itself.

Historically, Fries and the surrounding areas have seen impacts from passing hurricanes and their remnants. The most recent event of note was Hurricane Michael in 2018, where the remnants of the storm caused significant rainfall in the area, leading to flooding. Meanwhile, Hurricane Fran in 1996 delivered a substantial amount of rainfall causing dangerous flood conditions and it was regarded as one of the worst flood events in the region in the last 30 years. Apart from these, there have been other tropical systems whose remnants have passed through or near Fries, causing varying levels of flooding and wind damage. Hence, while a direct hurricane threat is low due to Fries's distance from the coast, the threat from heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds cannot be discounted.