Greenbackville, Virginia, being located along the eastern shoreline of the state, is particularly susceptible to hurricane threats, especially those carrying the potential for storm surge and heavy rains. Its geographical location makes it especially vulnerable to flooding as it lies very near the coast with an extremely low elevation that averages at just 3 feet. Coastal flooding is a significant risk during a hurricane, and the flat topography of the area could exacerbate this risk, as water would spread out widely and quickly without natural barriers such as hills or ridges. Over the last 30 years, Greenbackville has experienced multiple hurricanes which caused varying degrees of damage. The most notable instance occurred in 2003 with Hurricane Isabel, the costliest and deadliest hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season, which caused significant flooding and damage within Greenbackville and the surrounding region. In 2011, Hurricane Irene caused surges and wind damage to the town, followed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 which also created significant flooding. Historical flood risk and storm impacts demonstrate that residents of Greenbackville need to have robust emergency and evacuation plans in place during hurricane season that run from June to November.