County: Tazewell
ZIP Codes: 24613
Falls Mills, Virginia, tucked away more than 250 miles inland from the Atlantic coast and located at elevations that sharply drop from over 2,300 feet to 1,500 feet within less than 3 miles, faces different hurricane threats when compared to coastal towns. While the risk of storm surge is negligible due to the town's distance from the coast, the geographical features and historical flood risks make it likely to experience their hazards in the form of excessive rainfall and flooding. High-intensity hurricanes making landfall along the Atlantic coast can push large volumes of water into this inland area, causing storms that lead to heavy localized rain, which due to the elevation, can result in flash floods, landslides and damage to infrastructure. Regarding historical flood risks and incidents, the town has been affected by significant weather events over the past 30 years. For example, during Hurricane Fran in 1996, the state of Virginia received substantial rainfall leading to widespread flooding. Some of the greatest impacts, however, were likely due to the remnants of hurricanes rather than direct landfall. These remnants often carry large amounts of rain, causing the rivers and streams in the area to overflow their banks, as seen during the floods associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which caused extensive damage and fatalities in western Virginia. Therefore, even though Falls Mills is far from the coast, residents need to be prepared for the considerable potential of severe flooding during hurricane season.