County: Fairfax
ZIP Codes: 22308, 22307
Fort Hunt, Virginia, despite being relatively close to the coast, does not typically bear the brunt of Atlantic hurricane landfalls due to its northern location. However, it can still experience indirect effects such as heavy rainfall, high winds, and occasional storm surge from hurricanes moving up the coast or turning inland. The town's average elevation, which is relatively low, may increase its susceptibility to flooding from torrential rain, particularly in low-lying areas. Historically, hurricanes have not caused significant flooding in Fort Hunt, but the risk is still present, particularly if a hurricane coincides with other heavy precipitation events. Over the past thirty years, a few major hurricanes have impacted Fort Hunt indirectly. The most notable may be hurricane Fran in 1996 and hurricane Isabel in 2003. Fran caused significant rainfall in the area, which led to some flood damage, while Isabel brought strong winds that provoked widespread power outage and infrastructure damage. More recently, hurricane Matthew in 2016 and hurricane Florence in 2018 also affected the area with considerable rainfall. As the frequency and intensity of storms can be variable and unpredictable, constant monitoring for hurricane threats and maintaining a solid disaster preparedness strategy is necessary for communities like Fort Hunt.