Mechanicsburg, Virginia, while not directly on the coast, can still experience significant impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms, particularly in the form of heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding. Its inland location does offer some protection from direct storm damage, such as storm surge and wind damage, that coastal areas normally endure. However, the region's low-lying topography and numerous bodies of water increase the risk of significant river and flash flooding during heavy rainfall events. In terms of elevation, Mechanicsburg is pretty level, which again accentuates the risk of standing water and flooding during hurricane events. Historically, there have been several notable storm events in the last 30 years that have impacted Mechanicsburg. Hurricane Fran in 1996 brought heavy rains leading to widespread flooding and storm damage. Then, in 2003, Hurricane Isabel came through and, despite Mechanicsburg's distance from the coast, caused significant flooding and power outages. More recently, in 2018, while Hurricane Florence’s primary path was towards the Carolinas, the remnants of the storm still resulted in heavy rainfall and some flooding in the area. Therefore, while direct hurricane hits may not be a regular occurrence, the potential for heavy rain and flooding from these systems is a crucial consideration for Mechanicsburg's disaster preparedness planning.