Merrimac, Virginia is located approximately 175 miles inland from the Atlantic coast, and it sits in relatively low-lying terrain with an average elevation of about 650 feet. Historically, while the town has experienced tropical storm and hurricane remnants, the major threats from hurricanes in this region typically manifest as heavy rainfall causing flooding and strong winds causing structural damage. The town's relative distance from the coast often lessens the intensity of hurricanes as they lose strength over land, but this does not completely mitigate the risk. The major rivers around Merrimac, including the New River, are susceptible to overflow due to heavy sustained rain, always posing a flood threat for the town. In the past 30 years, several major storms have significantly impacted Merrimac. Hurricane Fran in 1996, Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and Hurricane Isabel in 2003 all caused extensive damage in the form of power outages, downed trees, and structural damage due to high winds and flooding. More recently, in 2018, Hurricane Florence caused significant flooding in Merrimac, although the storm had weakened to a tropical depression by the time it reached Virginia. Hurricane Florence demonstrated that although storms can weaken as they track inland, they can continue to drop massive volumes of rainfall, leading to dangerous flooding situations. Thus, while direct hurricane hits may not be as common, ensuring good infrastructure for flood prevention and wind resistance is crucial for the town's safety during hurricane season.