County: Manassas Park
ZIP Codes: 20111
Manassas Park, Virginia, even though it's not right on the coast, still faces some threats from hurricanes. The largest risks from hurricanes are high winds, heavy rains, and inland flooding. Based on the town's location, elevation, and past hurricane experiences, the most significant potential hazard is likely to be flooding from sustained heavy rain. The city's relatively low elevation and its proximity to bodies of water, like the Bull Run, mean hurricanes that dump large amounts of rain can create a substantial risk of flooding. Forested areas could also experience tree fall due to high wind speeds which would impact power lines and homes. Historically, Hurricanes Fran in 1996 and Isabel in 2003 have affected Manassas Park significantly, demonstrating the potential dangers of such storms in the area. Even though the city is quite a distance from Virginia's coastal regions, heavy rainfall from these hurricanes caused stream and creek flooding as well as flash flooding. Additionally, the remnants of Hurricane Ida in 2021 also caused heavy rainfall which resulted in flooding. Hence, residents should be prepared to handle similar situations in future events. The city's emergency services need to have a strong preparedness plan in place to quickly respond to such eventualities, and members of the community should be educated about what to do if such a storm threat arises.